Study Sanhedrin folio 18A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
The number of people needed in a city for it to be eligible for a lesser Sanhedrin is 277. This number is based on the opinion of R' Neḥemya, who requires 230 men, but requires an additional 47 men in case it happens that the rabbis of the court reach a situation where they are not able to arrive a
The Talmud asks: But isn’t it taught in a baraita that R' Yehuda HaNasi says: The number of men needed in a city for it to be eligible for a lesser Sanhedrin is 278? The Talmud answers: This is not difficult. This baraita that said R' Yehuda HaNasi requires 277 residents is stated in accordance wi
Apropos the opinion of R' Neḥemya, which links the issue of the lesser Sanhedrin with the appointment of the ministers in the wilderness, the Talmud relates: A baraita states: The verse states: “And place over them ministers of thousands, ministers of hundreds, ministers of fifties, and ministers o
Mishnah: The High Priest judges others if he is sufficiently wise, and others judge him when he transgresses. He testifies before the court and others testify concerning him. He performs ḥalitza with his brother’s widow and his brother performs ḥalitza with his wife; and his brother consummates lev