The Judges of the Sanhedrin - Quick Facts
The new Hebrew Supreme Court publishes long lists of laws to bring back law, order, and equality after the civil war
Their stories are about protecting the poor and needy and higher taxes on the wealthy
When: around 140 BCE
Where: Jerusalem
Greatest Works: Half of the Ten Commandments, the civil laws of Exodus
Traits: reformers, populists, tough on crime
Scholarly Name: Parts of "E source" of Exodus (ch.21 to 23), including five of the Ten Commandments, and the tax, Jubilee and civil laws in Leviticus
Who were the Judges of the Sanhedrin?
The Sanhedrin was the Hebrew Supreme Court and the head of the civilian judicial system in 140 BCE. It may have existed in some form previously, but in 140 BCE, the Sanhedrine merged as a significant political power on the historical scene.
They comprised 70 or 71 members, who emanated from respectable families of judges. Judges had been early Hebrew leaders, especially in the Kingdom of Israel, destroyed by Assyria in 722 BCE.
In 140 BCE, the Sanhedrin led the judicial overhaul that turned priestly elitist laws that benefited the priests and enriched them into populist quasi-socialist laws that created an independent and objective justice system based on the truth, rather than status or affiliation.
In 140 BCE, the Sanhedrin was the top court, and under it was the Bet Din, the House of Judgment, which ruled on religious matters. The head of the Sanhedrin and the head of the Bet Din were known as part of the "pairs" system, zugot, in Hebrew. And the President of the Sanhedrin was the senior partner in this pairing. The first President of the Sanhedrin in 140 BCE was Yosi son of Yoezer.
The Sanhedrin was remembered in Hebrew history as a place of open debate, majority and minority opinions, and extensive deliberations on justice. After the Roman Empire conquered Judea, the Sanhedrin slowly evolved to become the House of Hillel, a proponent of humanistic and compassionate values.
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