2. Qualification and, Recognition of j\fembers. — The qualifications for membership were both \exy minute and very numerous. The applicant had to be morally and phj'sically blameless. He had to be middle-aged, tall, good-looking, wealthy, learned (both in the divine law and diverse branches of profane science, such as med- icine, mathematics, astronomy, magic, idolatry, etc.), in order that he might be able to judge in these matters. He was recpared to know several languages, so that the Sanhedrim might not be dependent upon an interpreter in case any foreigner or foreign (luestion came before them (Menachoth, 65 a; Sanhedi-in, 17 a; IMainionides, lad Ila-Chezaka, Hilchoth Sanhedrin, ii, 1-8). Yery old persons, proselytes, eunuchs, and Nethinim were in- eligible because of their idiosyncrasies; nor could such candidates be elected as had no children, l)ecause they could not sympathize with domestic affairs (jMishna, llorajoth, i, 4; Sanhedrin, 36 b); nor those who could not prove that they were the legitimate offspring of a priest, Levite, or Israelite, who played dice, lent money on usury. Hew pigeons to entice others, or dealt in prod- uce of the Sabbatical year (jNIishna, Sanhedrin, iii, 3).
SAXIIEDIMM
343
SANHEDRIM
In addition to all these qualilications, a candidate for tlie Great Sanhedrim was required, first of all, to have been a judge in his native town; to have been trans- ferred from there to the Small Saniiedrim, which sat at the Temple mount or at its entrance (ri^'SH in or r'^an ~n nrS), thence again to have been advanced to the second Small Sanhedrim, which sat at the en- trance of the Temple hall (n~T"r; nrs or P^n), before he could be received as member of the seventy-one {^an/iedriii. 32 a, 88 b ; Maimonides, lad Ila-Ckezuka, Jlilchoth Sanhedrin, ii. 8).
The ordination took place when the candidate was first appointed judge in his native place. In olden days every ordained teacher could ordain his disciples; afterwards, however, the sages conferred this honor upon Hillel I, B.C. 30; it was then decreed that no one should be ordained without the permission of the presi- dent of the Sanhedrim (S"^w"3); that the president and the vice-president should not ordain in the absence of each other, but that both should be present; and that any other member may ordain with the permission of the president and the assistance of two non-ordained persons, as no ordination was valid if it was effected by less than three persons (Mishna, Sanhedrin, i, 3). The ordination was effected, not by the laying-on of hands on the head of the elder, but by their calling him rabbi, and saying to him, "Behold, thou art ordained, and hast authority to judge even cases which involve pecuniary tines" (Maimonides, ibid, iv, 1-4).
The Sanhedrim was presided over by a president called Nasi (N^pD) = prince, patriarch, and a vice- president styled "p'n rr^a 3X, the father of the house ofjudr/ment. The power of electing these high officials was vested in the corporate assembly of members, Avho conferred these honors upon those of their number who were most distinguished for wisdom and piety. The king was the only one disqualified for the presidential throne, because according to the Jewish law it is for- bidden to differ from him or to contradict his state- ment; but the high-priest might be elected patriarch provided he had the necessary qualifications (Sanhe- drin, 18 b; Maimonides, lad Ila -Chezaha, Uilchoth Sanhedrin, ii, 3). After the death of Hillel I, however, the presidency became hereditary in his family for thir- teen generations. See Hillel I. The functions of the Nasi or the patriarch were more especially external. Being second to the king, the Nasi represented the civil and religious interests of the Jewish nation before the Roman government al)road, and before the different Jewish congregations at home; while in the Sanhedrim itself he was simply the reciting and first teacher. The vice-president, on the other hand, had his sphere of labor more especially within the Sanhedrim. It was his office to lead and control their discussions on dis- puted points; hence his appellation, " father of the bouse of judgment," Next to the vice-presitlent, or the third in rank in the Sanhedrim, was the Csn, sar/e, referee, whose office it was to hear and examine the pending subject in all its bearings, and then to bring it before the court for discussion. This dignitary we first meet with under the presidency of Gamaliel II, the teacher of the ajiostle Paul [see Gamaliel], and his son Simon II (I/orajoth, 13; Tosephta Sanhedrin, cup. vii ; Frankel, Monatsschrift, i, 348), Besides these high functionaries, there were sundry servants not members of the seventy-one, such as two judges' scribes ("i^iS'D 'pi^'ntn), or notaries, one of whom registered the rea- sons for acquittal, and the other the reasons for con- demnation (Mishna, Snnhedrin, iv, 3) ; and other menial officials, denominated C^Twii', 'I'^T ri^3 "'lIJ'Qly = iittj;- pfrriQ, TrpaKTwp (Matt, v, 25 ; xxvi, 58 ; Mark xiv, 54, 65; Luke xii, 58; .John vii, 32, 45; xviii, 3, 12, 18, 22; xix, 6; Acts v, 22, 26; xxiii, 2, etc.).
3. Place, Time, and Order in which the Sessions trere held. — There seems not to have been any prescribed place for liolding che sessions in the early part of the Sanliedrim's existence. In all proliability they were held in some jdace adjoining the Temple, as the neigh- borhood of the sanctuary was deemed specially ap|)ro- priate for the solemn assemblies which had to decide upon the most momentous questions affecting life and death, time and eternity. It was Simon ben-Shetach (B.C. 110-65) who built the IJall of Squares (rscb r"iTan), or, more briefly, the Gazith (r'^trO, where both the Sanhedrim and the priests permanently held their meetings. This basilica, the floor of Avhich was made of hewn square stones — whence its name (Yorna. 25 a) — was situated in the centre of the south side of the Temple court, the northern part extending to the court of the priests ('IJlp), and the southern part to the court of the Israelites (^in); it was thus lying be- tween these two courts, and had doors into both of them (Mishna, Sanhedrin, xi, 2; Pea, iii, 6; Midduth, v, 3, 4; Herzfeld, Geschichte des Volkes Israel, i, 394 sq. ; Jost, Geschichfe des .Tndenthums, i, 145, 275). See Temple. This hall henceforth became the prescribed court for the sessions of the Sanhedrim. The assembling of the Sanhedrim in the high-priest's house was illegal. Equally illegal was the assumption of the presidency by this sacerdotal functionary over this supreme court recorded in the New Test. (jMatt. xxvi, 3 ; Acts v, 21, 27; xxiii, 2), as Gamaliel I was then the legitimate president {Pesachim, 88 b). When it is remembered that this sacred office was at that time venial, and that the high-priest was the creature of the Itomans, this priestly arrogance will not be matter of surprise. " For- ty years before the destruction of the Temple [i.e. while the Saviour was teaching in'Palestine], the sessions of the Sanhedrim were removed from the Hall of Squares to the Halls of Purchase" (Sabbat/i, 15 a; Aboda Sara, 8 b), on the east side of the Temple mount.