Sanhedrin is one of ten tractates of Seder Nezikin

Nezikin

For Jewish law on damages, see Damages Nezikin or Seder Nezikin is the fourth Order of the Mishna...

 (a section of the Talmud

Talmud

The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....

 that deals with damages, i.e. civil and criminal proceedings). It originally formed one tractate with Makkot

Makkot

Makkot is a book of the Mishnah and Talmud. It is the fifth volume of the book of Nezikin. Makkot deals primarily with laws of Jewish courts and the punishments which they may administer, and may be regarded as a continuation of tractate Sanhedrin, of which it originally formed part.Included in...

, which also deals with criminal law. The Gemara

Gemara

The Gemara is the component of the Talmud comprising rabbinical analysis of and commentary on the Mishnah. After the Mishnah was published by Rabbi Judah the Prince The Gemara (also transliterated Gemora or, less commonly, Gemorra; from Aramaic גמרא gamar; literally, "[to] study" or "learning by...

 of the tractate is noteworthy as precursors to the development of common law

Common law

Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...

 principles, for example the presumption of innocence and the rule that a criminal conviction requires the concurrence of twelve.

Summary of Sanhedrin

Within Seder Nezikin, the Sanhedrin focuses on questions of jurisdiction, criminal law

Criminal law

Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...

 and punishments. The tractate includes eleven chapters, addressing the following topics:

1. The different levels of courts and which cases each level presides over
2. Laws of the high priest and Jewish king and their involvement in court proceedings
3. Civil suits: acceptable witnesses and judges and the general proceedings
4. The difference between criminal and civil cases, general proceedings in criminal cases
5. Court procedures, including examination of witnesses and the voting of the judges
6. Procedures for execution after condemnation, especially stoning
7. The 4 types of capital punishments, details of crimes which merit stoning
8. The rebellious son, and other crimes for which the offender is killed before committing the actual prohibition, and the commandments which Jews are to die before violating.
9. Details of crimes meriting capital punishment by burning or slaying; auxiliary punishments
10. Details of crimes meriting capital punishment by choking
11. The World to Come
    World to Come
    The World to Come is an eschatological phrase reflecting the belief that the "current world" is flawed or cursed and will be replaced in the future by a better world or a paradise. The concept is similar to the concepts of Heaven and the afterlife, but Heaven is another place generally seen as...
    
    . This chapter is known individually by Helek, one of its opening words.

This is the order found in the Gemara, but the Mishna has the last 2 chapters reversed in order.

External links

• Sanhedrin Tractate Jewish Virtual Library

Sanhedrin (Talmud)