13. The first appointment of this court, the original of this “ con- sessus judicum,” is recorded Num. xi. 16, where, by God’s order, seventy elders are called and designed to join with Moses in the rule of the people, and are instructed with gifts to fit them for that purpose. The continuance of this, with the institution of other
es = Fi:
272 THE PROMISED MESSIAH [ EXERC. XII.
courts depending thereon, is enjoined the people, Deut. xvi Some say the first seventy were of them who had been officers over the people in Egypt, and had suffered for them: “ Whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people and officers over them,’—®¥3 “277; apeccirepos and spectirepor rod Aaod, in the New Testament, “elders and elders of the people.” Others think these had been elders and officers of the people before in criminal and civil causes, but now were absolutely joined with Moses in al]. These with him made up seventy-one; which was the constant number afterwards.
14. The principal things recorded concerning this court of elders or judges are,—First, Their orders, namely, that there was one that always presided amongst them, whom they called ws, “ The prince,” and xdaw, “The excellent,’ who supplied the place of Moses; and on his right hand sat he whom they called jo m2 as, “ The father of the house of judgment,” or consistory, who gathered the suffrages of the assessors; by whom stood two scribes, D3°9m "EID, “scribes of judgment,” one on the right hand of the prince, the other on his left, one whereof wrote down the sentences of them
who condemned, the other them who absolved, the persons that were —
to be judged. There belonged also to the court two ecriers, and two who received the alms that were given by them who were ab- solved. Before them, at some distance, sat those wise men out of whom the number of the sanhedrin, when any died or were re- moved, was to be supplied.
15. Secondly, The place of their meeting, which usually and or- dinarily was at Jerusalem, nn novb2, “in a chamber of hewed stones,” whence the judges are sometimes called by them, n¥3 *D3n, “The wise men of the stone chamber;” although, it may be, no more is intended in that expression but that it was a magnific, stately place or building, such as usually are made of stones hewed and carved. And they tell us that this place was built nigh the temple, part of it being on the holy ground, and part on that which was profane and common: whence also it had two doors; one on the sacred side, by which the prince and the assessors entered ; the other on the profane, by which criminal persons were brought im before them by their officers) So Talmud in Joma. And this some take to be the place where our Lord Christ was judged: John xix. 13, “He sat down in the judgment-seat, in a place that is called Audéorpawsos,” that is, nan nsw, the place built and raised up with hewed or squared stones; for that As2éerpuros doth not signify merely the “ pavement,” as we translate it, or the floor of the place, the apostle manifests by adding that “in the Hebrew it is called Gabbatha, xn23;” —in the Hebrew; for although the word have a Syriac termination, according to the corrupt pronunciation of the Hebrew in those days among the people, yet the original of it is Hebrew, and the Syriac
a
SECT. 14-17.] "LONG SINCE COME. 273
renders it here 85°53, and reads not 833. Now this signifies a high place, or a place built up on all sides and exalted ; such as the Roman Bjuar«, or judgment-seats, were placed on. But this might be an alike place to the other; for I much question whether the Roman governor sat in judgment in the meeting-place of the sanhedrin.
16. Thirdly, The Jews treat much of the qualifications of the per- sons who were to be of the number of the assessors of this court. For, first, they were to be of the priests, Levites, or nobles of Israel ; that is, principal men in the commonwealth. Yet none were ad- mitted into their number merely on the account of their dignity or offices, not the king, not the high priest, unless they were chosen with respect unto their other qualifications;—for, secondly, they were to be nip ‘Syn, “men of stature,’ and myn ‘Sy, “men of countenance,” or good appearance, to keep up, as they say, a rever- ence unto their office; and they were also to be MD9n Sy2, “men of wisdom,” and mopr ‘bya, “men of age,” according to the first in- stitution, and this carried the common appellation, “ Elders of the people.” They add, in Dine Mamonoth, that they were to be ‘sya pawa, “men skilled in the art of incantations and charms, to find out such practices;” which the Talmudists thought good to add, to countenance themselves, many of whom were professed magicians. And, lastly, they were to be pwd pyawa pyt, “skilled in seventy tongues,” that they might not need an interpreter; but fewer, I sup- pose, served their turn. They treat also in general that they ought to be men fearing God, hating covetousness, stout and courageous, to oppose kings and tyrants if need were.