Sanhedrin is a Greek word that literally means “joint meeting”, “meeting”. In fact, this is a board of senior officials who meet to resolve administrative issues. Among the ancient Jews, the Sanhedrin is the highest religious body, as well as the highest city court.
The term was spread in Judea in the Hellenistic era. A description of the powers of the Sanhedrin, the rules of conduct of its meetings and other aspects related to it are available in a treatise called "Sanhedrin". The latter is included in the Mishna, an integral part of the Talmud.
Multiple values
Sanhedrin is a term that has several meanings. Among them are the following:
- In ancient Judea, this is the highest collegiate institution that had judicial and political functions.
- The Pharisees have a council of two schools, such as the Shammiahs and the Hillelites. He sat until the destruction of Jerusalem and made decisions important to Judaism. He was called the Sanhedrin of Eighteen Decrees.
- In ancient Greece, a body that was created by Philip II, the Macedonian king, to guideUnion of Corinth.
- In France, under Napoleon, an advisory body composed of laymen and rabbis that developed legislation concerning the Jewish population.
- A treatise contained in the fourth section of the Mishnah - Nezikinah - and called "Sanhedrin".
- In Portugal, since 1818, the "Synedrio" is a secret society of a revolutionary liberal persuasion, which consisted of Freemasons and the military. Its purpose was to promote the introduction of liberalism in Portugal.
For a better understanding of the meaning of the word "Sanhedrin", the first of the above bodies will be considered below. It existed in two forms.
Small Sanhedrin
Unlike the usual court, which consisted of three people, this body consisted of 23 people. He had the right to conduct criminal trials. They were passed verdicts that included flogging or the death pen alty as punishment. At the same time, the adoption of a decision on deprivation of life required a majority of votes, and not less than two. Judgments were issued the morning after the hearing.
Death sentences by this body were quite rare. This was due to the presence of many stringent procedural requirements.
Great Sanhedrin
This body also existed in Jerusalem. He was the highest state institution (council) and the highest judicial institution among the Jews. Consisted of 71 members. The composition of the Sanhedrin resembled an aristocratic senate: its members were, apparently, the students of its members. They got thereby co-optation, which means the introduction of new persons into the elected body by his own decision.
The Sanhedrin could include:
- kohanim - priests;
- Levites - representatives of the tribe of Levi;
- Jews who had a pedigree.
Proselytes, that is, foreigners, were not allowed there.
Requirements for participants
There were a number of requirements for members of the Sanhedrin. These included the following:
- No injury.
- Knowledge of the Torah.
- Knowledge of languages, basic sciences, crafts.
- Initiation into the customs of sorcerers and astrologers.
Presided over this body by the Naxi, who called the assembly. It could also be the high priest. The Sanhedrin met in a special hall, which was called the Hall of Hewn Stones. He was in Jerusalem at the Temple. On some special occasions, meetings were held in the home of the Naxi. The seats in the meeting were arranged in such a way that the presiding officer could see all those present.
Functions
The most important matters were subject to discussion in the Great Sanhedrin. These were questions regarding, for example:
- war and peace;
- government positions;
- calendar setting;
- of places of worship;
- judgments about the viability of priests;
- false prophet cases;
- Jerusalem expansion;
- Temple reconstruction;
- trial over the whole city.
The impact of thisinstitutions could extend even to the king. Although it was believed that the king was not subject to trial, by and large the judicial power of this body also applied to monarchs. So, the king could not start a war without the consent of the Sanhedrin.
Right of life and death
Initially, the Sanhedrin - this is confirmed by ancient sources - was a body that had the right to decide on the life and death of the accused. However, after the Romans conquered Judea, his power was limited. Although he could still pass death sentences, the consent of the Roman governor was required for their execution.
As the Talmud says, the Great Sanhedrin left the Temple 40 years before the latter was destroyed. Since one of the important conditions for the imposition of death sentences was the presence of this body at the Temple, the executions ceased.
At the same time, a later commentary present in the Talmud does not exclude cases of the return of the Sanhedrin to its place. According to legend, this institution changed its stay ten times.
After the destruction of Jerusalem, Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai restored the Sanhedrin in Yavne. But it was no longer a judicial body, but an academy of law, which had legislative functions. Under Theodosius II, Gamaliel VI, the last head of the institution, was deprived of all rights. With his death, which followed in 425, the trace of the Sanhedrin finally disappeared.
In the New Testament
As is known from the Gospel, it was the body in question, which was headed by Anna and Caiaphas,Jesus Christ was condemned to death. The verdict of the Sanhedrin, after some hesitation, was approved by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor in Judea.
Among the members of the judgment seat there were also people who treated Jesus with sympathy. Later they were canonized in Christianity. The New Testament names such names as Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, who buried Christ, and Gamaliel. The latter was the teacher of the Apostle Paul.
