AGE, OLD [smith]
The aged occupied a prominent place in the social and political system of the Jews. In
private life they were looked up to as the depositaries of knowledge, (
Job 15:10) the young were ordered to rise up in their presence, (
Leviticus 19:32) they allowed them to give their opinion first, (
Job 32:4) they were taught to regard gray hair as a "crown of glory," (
Proverbs 16:31;
20:29) The attainment of old age was regarded as a special blessing. (
Job 5:26) In
pubic main qualification of those who acted as the representatives of the people in all matter of difficulty and deliberation. [ELDERS]