Benjamin Davidson *-1871

Davidson was born in Posen, but came to faith in London.  He was a close friend of Ridley Herschell, who may have been instrumental in his coming to faith.  In 1843 they both belonged to a Hebrew Christian Prayer Union, which used to meet once a month for prayer.

Though known most for his work as a grammarian and lexicologist, Davidson also worked as a missionary to his people. In 1847 he was appointed Principal of the Missionary Training College of the British Society when the Society founded that institution in London in 1847. He also used to instruct those who desired to learn more of the faith.  In 1866 he laboured in Vienna. In Bordeaux he stirred up an interest in the Jews among evangelical Christians, so that they founded the "Societé d'amis d'Israel." In 1871 he became Superintendent of the Home for Aged Converts and for Orphans, where he died the same year.

Works

Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon
Syriac Reading Lessons with Analysis
Chaldee Reading Lessons
English edition of Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance (editor)
Concordance of the Hebrew and Chaldee Scriptures (published posthumously)

Sources

Bernstein, A. Jewish Witnesses for Christ. Oliphant, 1909. New edition by Keren Ahvah Meshichit, Jerusalem 1999
McClintock and Strong, Cyc. xii., s.v.J. V. E.
Thompson, A. E.; Blackstone, W.E. A Century of Jewish Missions. Chicago, Fleming Revell Co., 1902
JewishEncylopedia.com

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