Recorder: (Heb. 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."
