SANHEDRIN / JUDGES
Moses had instructed the Israelites to prepare for their entry into Canaan, “In all the communities which the LORD, your God, is giving you, you shall appoint judges and officials throughout your tribes to administer true justice for the people” (Deut 16:18). Each city in the ancient land of Israel had a court or Sanhedrin. For Jews, one judge was not enough for the court. The minimum number of judges required was three in small villages of less than 120 men. If the number was higher in a village, a Sanhedrin or court of 23 judges formed the judiciary. The Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, comprising 71, was the supreme court of the Jews. Thus, there were three classes of courts: The Great Sanhedrin, the Lesser Sanhedrin, and the Court of Three or Seven. The judiciary interrogated the culprits and pronounced judgement. Thus, the judges in each community handled complaints and injustices. Those who purposefully killed other humans were put to death (Lev 24:21, Num 35:16). The Sanhedrin, the supreme council in Jerusalem, reserved the right to decide the severe punishment of stoning to death.
The literal meaning of Sanhedrin is “sitting together” or assembly. Sanhedrin was established after the Babylonian exile with religious, civil, and criminal jurisdiction over the Israelites. Each city in the ancient land of Israel had a Sanhedrin comprising twenty-three rabbis.
The Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, comprising seventy-one judges headed by the Hight Priest, was the supreme council and tribunal. It also functioned as the Supreme Court, taking appeals referred by lesser Sanhedrin. When the Bible used the term “Sanhedrin,” that was referring to the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. This Sanhedrin met every day except for festivals and the sabbath day in the Hall of Hewn Stones in the Temple. When the Romans came to power over the Jews, they restricted Sanhedrin’s authority.
The judicial system of the lesser Sanhedrin in the cities and the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem were the governance structure of the Jews that functioned well. However, they failed in accepting the Messiah and persecuted him and the church. If selfish motives creep into our minds, we also might become corrupt and do injustice to others. Let our prejudice and self-interests do not harm others and hinder our eternal salvation.