How did Moses establish the Sanhedrin?
Moses established the Sanhedrin by gathering seventy elders of Israel as instructed by God. This is detailed in Numbers: Chapter 11, Verses 24-25, where it states, “Moses went out, and told the people the words of the Lord, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round the tabernacle.” The Lord then took of the spirit that was upon Moses and gave it to the seventy elders, thus forming a duly constituted Court of Law.
Initially, Moses sat in the center of an arch formed by these elders, ensuring that all could see who was speaking. This assembly, consisting of Moses and the seventy elders, constituted a court that was required to vote on decisions, thus always resulting in a conclusion. Over time, as the workload increased, the court was divided into two separate courts: the Civil Court (The Gerusia) and the Religious Court (The Great Bet Din), with Moses serving as President of both.
Thus, the Sanhedrin was not only a judicial body but also a representation of governance among the people of Israel, as decreed by God in the Torah.