Elders most likely were responsible for caring for the people in the sense of administration and pastoral care

These roles may be identified with the gifts of administration or leadership

Theological Overview

The biblical texts indicate that God is the overseer, head of family, and provider for all creation. However, God placed others in positions of leadership to provide for the family/community and those vulnerable in society

This was also a pattern followed by Israel when it became a nation. Servants care for the families of leaders (2 Sam 9:9; 16:1) and administer the affairs of their community. Jesus told parables of servants who were given authority to care for their master’s possessions, business dealings, and banquets

As servants, they had responsibility and a duty to be accountable for their actions. The modern concept of stewardship suggests fiscal responsibility. While this was the responsibility of stewards (οἰκονόμος, oikonomos; Luke 16:1–15), their role involved much more. Joseph, as a Hebrew slave in Egypt (Gen 41:41), was in charge of his master’s home and, later, the country of Egypt. As steward he managed responsibilities and cared for the people. In addition to this, God appointed others to manage and care for the nation of Israel (e.g., Ezek 34:11–16).

“A trustworthy and thoughtful manager who understands the ways of his master will be given a ministry of responsibility in his master’s house, serving others exactly what they need at just the right time

45 “But what if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master delays his coming, and who knows when he will return?’ Because of the delay, the servant elevates himself and mistreats those in his master’s household. Instead of caring for the ones he was appointed to serve, he abuses the other servants, both men and women. He throws drunken parties for his friends and gives himself over to every pleasure.

47 “Every servant who knows full well what pleases his master, yet who does not make himself ready and refuses to put his master’s will to action, will be punished with many blows.

48 But the servant who does not know his master’s will and unwittingly does what is wrong will be punished less severely

For those who have received a greater revelation from their master are required a greater obedience. And those who have been entrusted with great responsibility will be held more responsible to their master.”

Lexical Information

Old Testament

שַׂר (śar). n. masc. steward, chief, official. Someone who has authority over a people or is entrusted with a certain task.

This word has various meanings but often refers to those who have been established in a position of stewardship. These types of positions may range from military to domestic duties. The passage that best illustrates the diversity of the various types of stewardship is

Here, David assembles the officials (śar) of Israel, who were the officials (śar) of tribes, officials (śar) of the working groups that served the king, commanders (śar) of thousands and of hundreds, and the stewards (śar) of the goods and the livestock of the king. All of these illustrate the different types of charges a steward (śar) would be placed over.

Other examples of officials include the “chief” (śar) cupbearer and the “chief” (śar) baker in Pharaoh’s household (Gen 40:2), who were entrusted with the duties relating to the overall function of the king’s table.

This verb has a wide range of senses in different verbal stems. Some forms can mean “to entrust (something to someone)” or “to appoint (someone over something).”

The core meaning of pāqad is “to meet” or “to attend to,” but it has a wide range of senses in different verbal stems. The Hiphil forms can mean “to commit, entrust.” The most familiar passage that uses this sense of the verb is

“Into your hand I commit (pāqad) my spirit.” This sense of the word includes the idea of trusting one to be responsible for whatever is given into one’s care.

Another example is found in

where Rehoboam entrusts (pāqad) the shields of bronze to the officers of the guard. The Hiphil form can also mean “to appoint,” and the construction “to appoint (pāqad) over (עַל, ʿal)” means “to put in charge of.”

For example, God tells Moses to appoint (pāqad) the Levites over (ʿal) the tabernacle, giving them responsibility for caring for and carrying the tabernacle and its equipment. Potiphar “appointed (pāqad) [Joseph] over (ʿal) his house (בַּיִת, bayit),” thus giving him the duty of a steward

(pĕquddâ). n. fem. oversight, charge.

A task that someone is appointed to oversee.

This noun is related to the verb פָּקַד (pāqad, “to entrust”) and typically refers to specific duties which someone is responsible to complete or oversee

For example, Eleazar, Aaron’s son, is given oversight (pĕquddâ) over certain duties within the tabernacle

and the Levites are given oversight (pĕquddâ) over the temple gates and the service in the temple

This noun is related to the verb פָּקַד (pāqad, “to entrust”). An overseer (pāqîd) may be in charge of a particular task. In Genesis 41:34 Joseph urges Pharaoh to appoint overseers (pāqîd) to gather the grain for the upcoming famine. Likewise, overseers (pāqîd) are appointed to gather all the young women from all the land of Ahasuerus (Esth 2:3). In other places the overseer is entrusted with a group of people. For example, in 2 Kgs 25:19 an officer of the guard takes a man who had been an overseer (pāqîd) of the men of war. This indicates that he had a responsibility over these men

(bayit). n. masc. house, household. This word can refer to a household as well as to a physical house; a steward was in charge of a household.

The core meaning of this word is “house,” but it can also refer to a household. Several variants of the phrase “who (אֲשֶׁר, ʾǎšer) is over (עַל, ʿal) the household (bayit)” are used to refer to servants who have charge over the affairs of the household (i.e., stewards). As mentioned above, Potiphar “appointed (פָּקַד, pāqad) [Joseph] over (ʿal) his house (bayit)” (Gen 39:4).

(yād). n. masc. hand, possession, charge, care, custody. In this special sense, it means custody or care.

Usually this word simply means “hand.” However, it can also figuratively indicate “power,” and in certain contexts, especially in the construction “in (אֶל, ʾel) the hand (yād) of [someone],” it signifies custody or care.

This expression is most common in the book of Esther. In Esther 2:3, the king appointed officers to gather all the beautiful young women from the land, and they are placed in the custody (yād) of Hegai