The Sanhedrim sat every day from the termination of the daily morning sacrifice till the daily evening sac- rifice, with the exception of the Sabbath and festivals, when they retired to the synagogue on the Temple mount and delivered lectures (Saiihedi-in, 88 b; Mai- monides, lad Ha-Chezaka, Uilchoth Sanhedrin, iii, 1). The order in which they sat was as follows: the presi- dent (X^ w3) sat in an elevated seat ; on his right hand sat the vice-president ('p'n P"^!! ~N), and at his left the chakdm (SZH), or referee ; while the members, seated on low cushions, with their knees bent and crossed in the Oriental fashion, were arranged, according to their age and learning, in a semicircle, so that they could see each other, and all of them be seen by the president and vice-president. The two notaries stood before them, one to the right and the other to the left. Before them sat three rows of disciples (^'^'^'5^.5F] D'^'atn), in places appropriate to their respective at- tainments. From the first of these rows the ranks of the judges were always filled up. When those of the second row took their seat in the first, those of the third took the seats of the second, while members of the congregation generally were selected to fill the lowest places vacated in tlie third row (^lishna, Sanhe- drin, iii, 3, 4; Maimonides, ibid, i, 3). Under ordinary circumstances all the seventy-one members were not required to be present in their seats, so that most of them could attend to their business, since twenty-three members formed a quorum. Less than this number during any part of the session was illegal ; hence before one could go out he was obliged to look round in order to ascertain that there was tlie legal quorum without him (Sanhediin, 88 b; Tnsephta Shekalim, at the end; Maimonides, Uilchoth Sanhedrin, iii, 2).
4. Jurisdiction of the Sanhedi-im. — Being both legis- lative and administrative, the functions of the Sanhe- drim in the thcocracv extended to the institution of or-
SANHEDRIM
344
SANPIEDRIM
The Gieat Saiihediim ^n
g to Lamy).
diiiances and the definition of disputed points in ecclesi- astical matters, as well as to the adjudication of ecclesi- astical and secular (luestions, includins^ even political matters. The tribunal had, in the first place, to inter- pret the divine law, and to determine the extension or limitation of its sundry enactments, inasmuch as the meml)ers of the Sanhedrim were not only the most skilled in the written word of God, hut were the hearers of the oral law which was transmitted to tliem by their predecessors, and which they again in succession handed down to the other members of this body. Thus the Sanhedrim had (<;) to watch over the purity and legal- ity of the priests who ministered in holy things. For this purpose they appointed trustworthy persons to keep family registers ("pD"^^ ~SO,.</eKea/or/«>s) of the priests in Egypt, Babylon, and in all places where the Jews re- sided, stating the names, and giving all the particulars both of the head of the family and all his male descend- ants, and to supply every priest with such a document attested by the Sanhedrim, inasmuch as those priests who could not (irove that they were not the issue of proscril)ed marriages were discpialified for ininistering in holy things, and were ordered to divest themselves of their sacerdotal robes and put on mourning (Mishna, Sanhedrin, i, 5; A/iddolk, v, 4; Bechoroffi, 4.5 a; To- sephta ChiujUm, cap. ii ; Josephus, Cont. Apion. i, 7). (6) To try cases of unchastity on the part of priests' daughters, and married women who were accused by their husbands of infidelity, which were tpiestions of life anil death (Mishna. S<it(i, i, 4: Sdnlndriti, o2 a), (r) To watch over the religious life of the nation, and to try any tribe which was accused of having departed from the living God to serve idols (ihid. i, ,5). (d) To bring to trial false prophets or any heretic who pro- mulgated doctrines contrary to the tenets of the scribes or the Sanhedrim (D''"iS'0 "'"l^'l ) : "Such a one is Mot to be executed by the tribunal of his native place, nor by the tribunal at .labne, but by the supreme court of .lerusalem; he is to be kept till the forthcoming fes- tival, and to be executed un Ihe/eslii-ul," as it is written
(Dent, xvii, 1.3). "and all the people shall hear and fear, and do no more presumptuously" (Mishna, Savhedrin, xi, 3, 4; comp. also Matt, xxvi, 6o ; xxvii, 63; Joint xix, 7; Acts iv, 2: v, 28; vi, 1.3). In accordance with this is the remark of our Savionr, "It cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem" (Luke xiii, 33, with J<isephus, Ant. xiv. 9, 3). (e) To see that neither the king nor the high-priest should act contrary to the law of (iod. Thus the Talmud tells us that Alexander Jan- naeus was simimoned before the Sanhedrim to witness the trial of his servant, who had committed murder (H.C. JSO), under the presidency of Simon ben-Shetach {Sduhedrin, 19 a), and we know that Herod had to ap- pear before this tribunal to answer for his conduct (Jo- sefihus. Ant. xiv, 9, 4). (f) To determine whether a war with any nation contemplated by the king is to be waged, and to give the sovereign permission to do so (Saiihedr-in, i, 5; ii, 4"). (y) To decide whether the boundaries of the holy city or the precincts of the Tem- ple are to be enlarged, inasmuch as it was only by the decision of the Sanhedrim that these additions could be included in the consecrated ground (ihid. i, 5; Shehuoth, 14 a), {h) To appoint the provincial Sanhedrim, or courts of justice {Sanhedrin, i, .5; (icniara, ibid. 63 b; TosephUi Sanhedrin, cap. vii ; ibid. Chat/iga, cap. ii ; Jervstnlem Sanhedrin, i, 19 b). (J) To regulate the cal- endar and harmonize the solar with the lunar year by appointing intercalary days {Sanhedrin, 10 b). This jurisdiction of the Sanhedrim was recognised by all the .lews both in Talestine and in foreign lands (Acts ix,2; xxvi, 10; with Mishna, Maiioth, vi, 10; Tosephta San- hedrin, cap. vii ; Chaguja, cap. ii). Thereby this su- jireme court secured unity of faith and uniformity of practice.