Editing Sanhedrin (section)

== Hebrew Bible ==
In the [[Hebrew Bible]], [[Moses]] and the Israelites were commanded by God to establish courts of judges.<ref>{{bibleverse|Exodus|18:21–22|HE}}, {{bibleverse|Deuteronomy|1:15–18|HE}}</ref> They were also commanded to establish a "supreme court" located at the central sanctuary (after arriving in the [[Land of Israel]]), to handle cases too difficult for local courts.<ref>{{bibleverse|Deuteronomy|17:9–12|HE}}</ref>

When Moses declared that the task of leading the people was too difficult for him, God had him appoint 70 elders (''zekenim'') to share the burden of leadership with him.<ref>{{bibleverse|Numbers|11:16–17, 24–25|HE}}</ref> According to the [[Mishnah]], these 70 elders plus Moses himself are the source for the 71 judges of the "Great Sanhedrin".<ref name=m16>[[Mishnah]], Sanhedrin 1:6</ref> These elders are described as "the elders of the people and its officers",<ref>{{bibleverse|Numbers|11:16|HE}}</ref> according to a [[midrash]], they were the same officers who were beaten in Egyptian slavery for failing to meet Pharaoh's quota of bricks, and after the Exodus were rewarded with membership on the first Sanhedrin.<ref>{{Alhatorah|Exodus|5:14|Rashi}}</ref>

The 23 judges of the "Lesser Sanhedrin" are derived from the following [[exegesis]]: it must be possible for a "[[minyan|community]]" to vote for both conviction and exoneration ({{Bibleverse-lb|Numbers|35:24–25|HE}}). The minimum size of a "community" is 10 men,<ref>The Hebrew term "community" appears in {{Bibleverse-lb||Numbers|14:27|HE}}; i.e., the 10 spies who had spread a bad report about the land, thus a "community" is 10 men.</ref> thus 10 vs 10. One more is required to achieve a majority (11 vs. 10), but a simple majority cannot convict ({{Bibleverse-lb||Exodus|23:2|HE}}), and so an additional judge is required (12 vs. 10). Finally, a court should have an odd number of judges to prevent deadlocks; thus 23 rather than 22.<ref name=m16/>