Council,’ which expression refers to the higher Jewish tribunal that was above the one called the 'Judgment.’ In the lesser one private crimes, if necessary, were punished with death; but the Sanhedrin, or Supreme Council of the nation, was more severe, inasmuch as it judged crimes concerning the State, and the government and religion of God’s people: — and against it there was no appeal. To express the just chastisement of those who give way to the second degree of anger — i.e., of showing their hate by angry or contemptuous words — Jesus Christ places it within the power of what is most severe and inflexible amongst men, which is the extreme rigour of the sovereign National Council.
Then comes the last degree, which was to offer atrocious insults, such as to call one’s brother ' thou fool'; [1] and for this offence there was nothing human left by which to express the vengeance it deserves except a valley near Jerusalem, held as abominable, and called i the valley of corpses and cinders.’ It was there that, in the days when the people of God were given up to idolatry, the Israelites burnt their children
- ↑ ' An expression then looked upon as a heinous injury, when uttered with contempt, spite or malice.' (Note in Douay Version.)
