Difference between revisions of "Commander"

<p> <em> Śar </em> (שַׂר, Strong'S #8269), “official; leader; commander; captain; chief; prince; ruler.” This word, which has an [[Akkadian]] cognate, appears about 420 times in biblical Hebrew. The word is often applied to certain non-lsraelite “officials or representatives of the king.” This meaning appears in Gen. 12:15, its first biblical appearance: “The <em> princes </em> also of [[Pharaoh]] saw her [Sarah], and commended her before Pharaoh.…” In other contexts <em> śar </em> represents “men who clearly have responsibility over others”; they are “rulers or chieftains.” <em> Śar </em> may mean simply a “leader” of a profession, a group, or a district, as [[Phichol]] was the “commander” of Abimelech’s army (Gen. 21:22) and [[Potiphar]] was “an officer of Pharaoh’s and captain of the [body]guard” (Gen. 37:36). In such usage, “chief” means “head official” (cf. Gen. 40:2). <em> Śarim </em> (plural) were “honored men” (Isa. 23:8). <em> Śar </em> is used of certain “notable men” within Israel. When [[Abner]] was killed by Joab, David said to his servants (palace officials), “Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?” (2 Sam. 3:38; cf. Num. 21:18). Joab, Abishai, and [[Ittai]] were “commanders” in David’s army (cf. 2 Sam. 23:19). “Local leaders in Israel” are also called <em> śarim </em> : “And the <em> princes </em> of [[Succoth]] said …” (Judg. 8:6). </p> <p> In several passages, <em> śar </em> refers to the task of “ruling.” Moses tried to break up a fight between two Hebrews and one of them asked him, “Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?” (Exod. 2:14). In such a context, <em> śar </em> means “leader,” “ruler,” and “judge”: “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens …” (Exod. 18:21). The “commander” of Israel’s army was called a <em> śar </em> (1 Sam. 17:55). </p> <p> In Judg. 9:30, <em> śar </em> represents a “ruler” of a city. Any government official might be called a <em> śar </em> (Neh. 3:14). “Religious officiants” who served in the temple of God were also called <em> śarim </em> (Jer. 35:4). </p> <p> The “leaders” or “chiefs” of the [[Levites]] (1 Chron. 15:16) or priests (Ezra 8:24) are <em> śarim </em> . In 1 Chron. 24:5, the word appears to be a title: “Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary [ <em> śarim qodes </em> ] and governors of the house of God [ <em> śarim ha’elohim </em> ], were of the sons of [[Eleazar]] and of the sons of Ithamar” [[(Nasb,]] “officers of the sanctuary” and “officers of God”). In the Book of Daniel, <em> śar </em> is used of “superhuman beings” or “patron angels.” Thus, [[Michael]] is the “prince” of Judah (Dan. 10:21; cf. Josh. 5:14). Daniel 8:25 speaks of a king who will arise and “stand up against the Prince of princes” (i.e., the Messiah). </p>

<p> [[Commander,]] n. </p> 1. [[A]] chief one who has supreme authority a leader the chief officer of an army, or of any division of it. The term may also be applied to the admiral of a fleet, or of a squadron, or to any supreme officer as the commander of the land or of the naval force the commander of a ship. 2. One on whom is bestowed a benefice or commandry. 3. [[A]] heavy beetle or wooden mallet, used in paving, &c. 4. An instrument of surgery.

<p> '''(1):''' (n.) [[A]] chief; one who has supreme authority; a leader; the chief officer of an army, or of any division of it. </p> <p> '''(2):''' (n.) An officer who ranks next below a captain, - ranking with a lieutenant colonel in the army. </p> <p> '''(3):''' (n.) The chief officer of a commandery. </p> <p> '''(4):''' (n.) [[A]] heavy beetle or wooden mallet, used in paving, in sail lofts, etc. </p>