8. “How did they look round for the purity of the court?” “The priests baptized the vessels, which were in the Sanctuary, and used to say to the people, ‘Watch and do not touch the table and the candlestick, lest you render them unclean.’ ” All the vessels in the Sanctuary were double and treble, because if the first became unclean, they could bring duplicates instead of them. “All the vessels which were in the Sanctuary required baptism(367) except the golden altar, and the brazen altar, because they are as earth.” The words of R. Eliezer. But the Sages say, “because they were overlaid.”
Judges—Judgments—The Tribunal of Seventy-one—The Great Sanhedrin—The Small Sanhedrin—High Priest—Funerals—King—Royal Wives—Book of the Law—Objections to Judges—Relations—Examination of Witnesses—Evidence—Judgments in Money and Judgments in Souls—Form of the Sanhedrin—Appointment of Judges—Intimidation of Witnesses—Investigation—Acquittal or Condemnation—Stoning—Hanging—Burning—Beheading —Strangling—Blasphemy—Idolatry—Enticing—Sorcery—A Son Stubborn and Rebellious—Burglary—Murder—Theft—Those Who Have No Portion in the World to Come—The Rebellious Elder—The False Prophet—The False Witness.
1. “Judgments for money (require) three (judges). Robbery and beating (require) three. Damages or half damages, double payments and payments four or five fold (require) three.” “Constraint, and enticement, and slander (require) three.” The words of R. Meier. But the Sages say, “slander (requires) twenty-three judges, because there exist in it judgments of souls.”
2. Stripes (require) three judges. In the name of Rabbi Ishmael, the Sages say, “twenty-three.” “The intercalary month(368) requires three. The intercalary year requires three.” The words of Rabbi Meier. Rabban Simon, the son of Gamaliel, said, “with three judges they begin, and with five they discuss, and they conclude with seven; and if they concluded with three it is intercalated.”
3. “The appointment of elders, and striking off the heifer’s neck(369) (require) three.” The words of Rabbi Simon. But Rabbi Judah said, “five.” The loosing off the shoe,(370) and dissatisfaction in marriage (require) three. The produce(371) of the fourth year,(372) the second tithes, of which the value is unknown (require) three. The valuation of holy things (requires) three. The estimation of movable things requires three. R. Judah said, “one of them must be a priest.” Immovable things require nine judges and a priest; and the valuation of a man (slave) is similar.