Aluf

The term aluf comes from the Bible (): the Edomites used it as a rank of nobility and the later books of the Bible use it to describe Israelite captains as well, e.g. Zechariah 9:7, 12:5-6, and later and Psalms 55:13, where it is used as a general term for teacher. It comes from a Semitic root meaning "thousand," making an ’allup̄ the one who commands a thousand people. Strong's Christian Bible Concordance, however connects the word used to describe the Dukes of Edom to a different root "alf" denoting a teacher and the root for the animal 'ox' from which the letter aleph itself is derived, rather than eleph thousand; the same 3 letters comprise them both, however. Aside from being a military rank, "aluf" is also used in a civilian context, particularly in sports, meaning "champion". ==Rank order of aluf and its derivatives==

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) form an integrated force and the Israel Defense Forces ranks are the same in all services. • (): Chief of the General Staff (Israel) • (): Arms, Branches, Regional commands • (): Corps, Divisions • (): Brigades • (): Battalions , usually translated as "lieutenant general", is the most senior rank in the IDF. The rank is given only to the Chief of the General Staff, so there can only be one active under normal circumstances. However this can change in a time of war. During the Yom Kippur War in 1973, retired Haim Bar-Lev was recalled into service, replacing Shmuel Gonen as the commander of the southern theater. Thus, along with Chief of the General Staff David Elazar (who had succeeded Bar-Lev in that position the previous year), there were two s in active service. The three Israeli military forces, land and air power, and navy have the same ranks, although separate naval ranks were used for a short time in the 1950s; an officer who would be a OF-7, major general, air vice-marshal, or rear admiral elsewhere is an in any of the Israeli forces. The non-Hebrew word "general" was also adopted into Hebrew (), and is used to refer to the generals of foreign armies. ==See also==