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RECORDER (Hebrews mazkir, i.e., “the mentioner,” “rememberancer”), the office first held by Jehoshaphat in the court of David (2 Samuel 8:16), also in the court of Solomon (1 Kings 4:3). The next recorder mentioned is Joah, in the reign of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:18, 37; Isaiah 36:3, 22). In the reign of Josiah another of the name of Joah filled this office (2 Chronicles 34:8). The “recorder” was the chancellor or vizier of the kingdom. He brought all weighty matters under the notice of the king, “such as complaints, petitions, and wishes of subjects or foreigners. He also drew up papers for the king’s guidance, and prepared drafts of the royal will for the scribes. All treaties came under his oversight; and he had the care of the national archives or records, to which, as royal historiographer, like the same state officer in Assyria and Egypt, he added the current annals of the kingdom.”

REDEEMER Hebrews goel; i.e., one charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs (Leviticus 25:48, 49; Numbers 5:8; Ruth 4:1; Job 19:25; Psalm 19:14; 78:35, etc.). This title is peculiarly applied to Christ. He redeems us from all evil by the payment of a ransom (q.v.). (See REDEMPTION.)

REDEMPTION the purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man’s relation to man (Leviticus 19:20; 25:51; Exodus 21:30; Numbers 35:31, 32; Isaiah 45:13; Proverbs 6:35), and in the same sense of man’s relation to God (Numbers 3:49; 18:15).

There are many passages in the New Testament which represent Christ’s sufferings under the idea of a ransom or price, and the result thereby