Thursday, August 1, 2024

William M. Schniedewind on na’ar (‎נַעַר) often meaning “Apprentice”

  

The Hebrew Title “Apprentice” (na’ar)

 

The apprenticeship system in ancient Israel is indicated by the Hebrew title na’ar, which is known both in biblical texts and inscriptions. It is sometimes translated as “a youth” in the Bible, but in many instances the youth is serving as an apprentice in a profession. The translation of this term has been the subject of a great deal of discussion, partly because of its seemingly broad semantic range. The standard biblical Hebrew dictionary offers its first definition as “lad, adolescent” and its second definition as “young man”; however, this seems misleading, since many of the passages cited for such definitions could just as easily be translated as “servant” or “apprentice.” For example, in the Joseph narrative we read about a na’ar “who was the servant of the chief steward” (Gen 41:12). Joshua, the servant of Moses, is also given the title na’ar (Exod 33:11). The prophet Balaam also has two servants who are called by the title na’ar (Num 22:22). Gideon has a servant named Purah who is his na’ar (Judg 7:10-11). One could be designated as a na’ar from birth (e.g., Judg 13:7; Jer 1:5-6), but the na’ar could be of various ages. Most famously, the young boy Samuel was made the na’ar of Eli (1 Sam 3:1). He was his apprentice. How long did Samuel remain a na’ar? Presumably until the death of Eli, at which time he took over the position of Eli and ceased to be a na’ar (1 Sam 4:18). Being the na’ar had nothing to do with Samuel’s age but rather was related to Samuel’s relationship to Eli. In short, he was apprenticed to Eli.

 

One of the most curious uses of na’ar is for King Solomon. Solomon actually calls himself a na’ar when addressing God, even though he has just become king (1 Kgs 3:7). Obviously, Solomon uses na’ar as a metaphor It is a self-deprecation that has to do not with age but with experience and relative position. He is newly found on the job as king. So he tells God that he is his apprentice. If we understand the metaphor of God as the ultimate king, then Solomon was indeed his na’ar. The metaphor further extends to the conception of the king as the “son of God” (e.g., Ps 2:7), since son is also a metaphor for apprentices. (William M. Schniedewind, Who Really Wrote the Bible: The Story of the Scribes [Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2024], 25-26)

 

  

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