New Testament times they also appear taking an active part in public
affairs (Matthew 16:21; 21:23; 26:59).
The Jewish eldership was transferred from the old dispensation to the
new. “The creation of the office of elder is nowhere recorded in the New
Testament, as in the case of deacons and apostles, because the latter
offices were created to meet new and special emergencies, while the former
was transmitted from the earlies times. In other words, the office of elder
was the only permanent essential office of the church under either
dispensation.”
The “elders” of the New Testament church were the “pastors” (Ephesians
4:11), “bishops or overseers” (Acts 20:28), “leaders” and “rulers”
(Hebrews 13:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:12) of the flock. Everywhere in the New
Testament bishop and presbyter are titles given to one and the same
officer of the Christian church. He who is called presbyter or elder on
account of his age or gravity is also called bishop or overseer with
reference to the duty that lay upon him (Titus 1:5-7; Acts 20:17-28; Phil.
1:1).
- ELEALEH God has ascended, a place in the pastoral country east of
Jordan, in the tribe of Reuben (Numbers 32:3, 37). It is not again
mentioned till the time of Isaiah (15:4; 16:9) and Jeremiah (48:34). It is
now an extensive ruin called el-A’al, about one mile north-east of Heshbon. - ELEAZAR God has helped. (1.) The third son of Aaron (Exodus 6:23).
His wife, a daughter of Putiel, bore him Phinehas (Exodus 6:25). After the
death of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:12; Numbers 3:4) he was
appointed to the charge of the sanctuary (Numbers 3:32). On Mount Hor
he was clothed with the sacred vestments, which Moses took from off his
brother Aaron and put upon him as successor to his father in the high
priest’s office, which he held for more than twenty years (Numbers
20:25-29). He took part with Moses in numbering the people (26:3, 4),
and assisted at the inauguration of Joshua. He assisted in the distribution
of the land after the conquest (Joshua 14:1). The high-priesthood remained
in his family till the time of Eli, into whose family it passed, till it was
restored to the family of Eleazar in the person of Zadok (1 Samuel 2:35;
comp. 1 Kings 2:27). “And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried
him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son” (Joshua 24:33). The word
here rendered “hill” is Gibeah, the name of several towns in Palestine