Rudolf Smend

Rudolf Smend (November 5, 1851 – December 27, 1913)--"the Elder"-- was a German theologian born in Lengerich, Westphalia.

He studied theology at the Universities of Göttingen, Berlin and Bonn, earning his doctorate in 1874 with a dissertation on Arabic poetry.

At Göttingen he was reunited with his former teacher Julius Wellhausen (1844–1918), who was a major influence in his professional career.

Smend is largely remembered for critical examination of the Old Testament, particularly in his research involving stories of the Hexateuch.

In 1907 with Alfred Rahlfs (1865–1935) he created the Septuaginta-Unternehmen (Septuagint Venture) in the Göttingen Society of Sciences.