The זקנים

Πρεσβυτερος (presbuteros, presbytery) corresponds in LXX to the Biblical term זקנים. According to this vision, responsibilities of the זקן continue in the administration of the "New Y^әru·shâ·la′ yim" (cf. Unv. 5.10; 20.6; and 22.5) and include:

1. Representing the goy·im′  (according to this vision!) in the sacral b^әrit and in the proclamation and administering of Tor·âh′  (limited in early times to representing the am) [Sh^әm·ot′  19.7; 24.1, 9; D^әvâr·im′  27.1; 29.9; 31.9; Y^әho·shu′ a 8.33; 24.1; M^әlâkh·im′  Beit 23.1],
   
   
2. Conducting political negotiations and arbitration of international disputes and conflicts (among the goy·im′ ) [Sh^әm·ot′  3.16, 18; 4.29; b^ә-Mi·d^әbar′  16.25; Sh^әmu·eil′  Beit 3.17; 5.3] and
   
   
3. Performing sacred ceremonies [Sh^әm·ot′  12.21, 24; 18.12 with Y^әkhëzqeil 40-48; wa-Yiq·râ′  9.1-4; Sh^әmu·eil′  Âl′ ëph 4.3; M^әlâkh·im′  Âl′ ëph 8.1, 3; xDivreiYamimAleph 15.25].
   
   

The body of זקנים derives from Sh^әm·ot′  18 and the original 70-member Beit-Din ha-Ja·dol′ , imbued with the Ru′ akh of Mosh′ ëh (b^ә-Mi·d^әbar′  11.17, 24-25). The attributes of the זקן are: reverence for ha-Sheim, trustworthiness, and honesty (Sh^әm·ot′  18) ; the Ru′ akh of ha-Sheim (b^ә-Mi·d^әbar′  11) ; and intellectual capacity in terms of Tor·âh′ -based wisdom, understanding and knowledge of Tor·âh′  (cf. D^әvâr·im′  1.1-6). Further details are also found in EJ.