Friedlander, David, a Jewish scholar, was born at Konigsberg (Prussia) Dec. 6, 1749. The Reform movement at Berlin, under the leadership of Men- delssolin (q. v.\ attracted him to the Prussian me- tropolis, and In'ought him into relations with Men- delssohn. He devoted himself to educational and oth- er reforms among the Jews, and at one time went so far as to propose a union of the Jewisli Church with the Cliristian. In a Sendsrhreibcn addressed to the Protestant clergj'man Teller, he asked " how it might he possible for a conscientious Jew to enter into Cliris- tian fellowship without making a hypocritical confes- sion." The unfavorable reply whicii he received to this inquiry, and the disapprol)ation with whicli it was met from many Jews, caused him to abandon the Jiroj- ect. Friedlilnder was a constant contrilnitor to tiie Jifiiiinische Monndtschrift , and to the SinnmJrr (a Jew- ish periodical at Konigsberg, supported niainlj' by dis- ciples of Kant). Besides a number of works of infe- rior merit, he translated the liturgies, and contributed to iSIendelssohn's great Bible work (rlSilp), Das Buck Kokeleth, im Original mit d. hcbriiisch. Commentar
Mendelssohn's ii. d. Uebers. David Friedliinder's (Ber- lin, 1772). He died at Berlin, Dec. 20, 1834.— Jost, Grsch. d. Judcnihums n. s. Sckten, i'li, olG; Biogi-apkie Universelk, Ixiv, 513; Kitto, Cyclop, of Bib. Lit. ii ; Etheridge, Introd. to Bib. Lit. 477. (J. II. W.)
Friend " is taken for one whom we love and es- teem above others, to whom we impart our minds more familiarlj' than to others, and that from a confi- dence of his integrity and good w ill towards us ; thus Jonathan and David were mutualh- friends. Solo- mon, in his book of Proverbs, gives the qualities of a true friend. 'A friend loveth at all times:' not only in prosperity, but also in adversity ; and, ' There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.' He is more hearty in the performance of all friendly offices ; he reproves and rebukes when he sees anything amiss. 'Faithful are the wounds of a friend.' His sharpest reproofs proceed from an upright and trulj- loving and faithful soul. He is known liy his good and faithful counsel, as well as by his seasonable rebukes. ' Oint- ment and perfume rejoice the heart, so does the sweet- ness of a man's friend bj' hearty counsel:' bj' such, counsel as comes from his very heart and soul, and is the language of his inward and most serious thoughts. The company and conversation of a friend is refreshing and reviving to a person who, when alone, is sad, dull, and inactive. ' Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man shar[i- eneth the countenance of his friend.' The title, 'the friend of God,' is principally given to Abraham : 'Art not thou our God, who gavest this land to the seed of Abraham, thy friend, forever.'' And in Isaiah xli, 8, ' But thou Israel art the seed of Abraham, mj' friend.' 'And the Scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteous- ness ; and he was called the friend of God' (James ii, 23). This title was given him, not only because God frequently appeared to him, conversed familiarly with him, and revealed his secrets to him, ' Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?' (Gen. xviii, 17), but also because he entered into a covenant of perpetual friendship both with him and his seed. Our Saviour calls his apostles 'friends:' ' But I have call- ed you friends ;' and he adds the reason of it, ' For all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you' (John xv, 15). As men use to com- inunicate their counsels and their whole minds to their friends, especially in things which are of anj' concern, or maj' be of anj' advantage for them to know and un- derstand, so I have revealed to you whatever is neces- sary for your instruction, office, comfort, and salvation. And this title is not peculiar to the apostles only, but in common with them to all true helievers. The friend of tlie bridegroom is the brideman, he Avho does the honors of the wedding, and leads his friend's spouse to the nuptial chamber. John the Baptist, with respect to Christ and his Church, was the friend of the bride- groom ; liy his preaching he prepared the people of the Jews for Christ (John iii, 29). Friend is a word of or- dinary salutation, whether to a friend or foe ; he is called friend who had not on a wedding garment (Matt, xxii, 1'2). And our Saviour calls Judas the traitor friend. Some are of opinion that this title is given to the guest by an irony, or antiphrasis, mean- ing the contrary to what the word importeth ; or that he is called so because he appeared to otiiers to be Christ's friend, or was so in his own esteem and ac- count, though falsely, being a hypocrite. However, this being spoken in the person of him who made the feast, it is generally taken for a usual compellation, and that Christ, following the like courteous custom of appellation and friendly greeting, did so salute Ju- das, whicli yet left a sting behind it in his conscience, who knew himself to be the reverse of what he was called. The name of friend is likewise given to a neighbor. ' Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and say, Friend, lend me three loaves ?'(Luke xi, 5)." — Watson, Dictionary, s. v.