lf, and the lion, and the bear, and the
leopard, and the panther, and the serpent, are to be put to death with
twenty-three judges. R. Eliezer said, "everyone who first killed them has
gained honor." R. Akiba said, "they are to be put to death after a
judgment with twenty-three (judges)."

5. A tribe must not be judged, nor a false prophet, nor a high priest,
save before the tribunal of seventy-one. And soldiers must not go forth to
lawful warfare, save by a decree of the tribunal of seventy-one. Men must
not add to the city or to the temple courts, save by a decision of the
tribunal of seventy-one. They must not appoint judges to the tribes, save
by a decision of the tribunal of seventy-one. A city must not be excluded,
save by the tribunal of seventy-one. And the tribunal must not exclude a
city on the border, nor exclude three cities, but only one or two.

6. The Great Sanhedrin consisted of seventy-one members, and the small one
of twenty-three. And whence know we that the great one contained
seventy-one? as is said, "Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of
Israel",(374) and Moses over them. There are seventy-one. R. Judah said
"seventy." And whence know we that the small one consisted of
twenty-three? as is said, "Then the congregation shall judge";(375) "and
the congregation shall deliver." A congregation to judge, and a
congregation to deliver, there is twenty. And whence know we that a
congregation required ten? as is said, "How long shall I bear with this
evil congregation?"(376) Joshua and Caleb were excepted. "And whence know
we to produce the other three?" From the meaning, as is said, "Thou shalt
not follow a multitude to do evil."(377) I am hearing that "I shall be
with them for good." If so, why is it said, "to decline after many to
wrest judgment"?(378) "Because thy inclinations to good do not equal thy
inclinations to evil. Thy inclinations to good are by the report of one.
Thy inclinations to evil are by the report of two. And a tribunal must not
be balanced. Another must be added. There are twenty-three." "And how
populous must be the city suited for judges?" "One hundred and twenty." R.
Nehemiah said "230 to represent twenty-three overseers of tens."

Chapter II

1. The high-priest may judge, and be judged.(379) He may bear witness, and
witness may be borne against him. He may have his shoe loosed, and the
shoe may be loosed for his wife.(380) His brother may take his wife, but
he must n