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Re: Essenes: courts and executions
>Josephus's Essene source has an unusual passage
>which could read like an apology against
>criticisms of too liberal willingness to inflict capital
>punishment in their courts.
> "But in the judgements they exercise they are
> most accurate and just, nor do they pass
> sentence by the votes of a court that is fewer
> than a hundred. And as to what is once
> determined by that number, it is unalterable.
> What they most of all honor, after God himself,
> is the name of their legislator, whom if any
> one blaspheme he is punished capitally."
> (_Wars_ II, 8, 9)
>Question: if first-century CE high priests had
>grave difficulties offing political opponents
>without getting Roman permission, what on earth
>is this reference to Essene courts of one hundred
>carrying out formal executions all about?
>Is this a hint of Essenes having held state
>power at one time? A hint or an echo out of their
>real, as distinguished from literarily constructed,
>past, as it were? Anyone have a better
>idea?
Greg, why does this have to refer to 'capital' cases? If it does not refer to
capital cases, then there is no problem.
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