[18] Buechler _loc. cit._, p. 691, doubts whether the method of precipitation was ever legally used. [19] II Chr. xxv, 12. [20] II Macc. vi, 10; but Josephus, _Antiq._, XII. v, 4 says that they were crucified and then strangled by having their children hung round their neck. [21] Susanna 62, LXX text. [22] Luke iv, 29. [23] Lev. xvi, 22. [24] Students’ Annual, 1914, pp. 146, 147. I gladly take this opportunity of acknowledging my indebtedness to Prof. Ginzberg who read this essay in manuscript and gave me valuable suggestions on many points. [25] Sanh. 45a bottom. [26] Lev. xx, 9, 11, 12, 13, 16, 27. [27] Sanh. 43a; Mark xv, 23; Matt. xxvii, 34; Prov. xxxi, 6. [28] Lev. xxi, 9; xx, 14; Cf. Gen. xxxviii, 24 (Tamar) and Josh. vii, 15, 25 (Achan). [29] Jud. xii, 14, 15; Josh. vii, 15, 24; Josephus, _War_, II. xxi, 3, 7. [30] Josephus, _Antiq._, IV, viii, 23, to Levit. xxi, 9. Compare Dan. iii, 6. [31] Josephus, _Antiq._, XVII, vi, 4; _War_, I, xxxiii, 4. [32] _War_, II, xxi, 3. [33] Mishna Sanh. vii, 2; Tos. Sanh. ix, 11; J. Sanh. VII, 24b; B. Sanh. 52b. [34] Sanh. 52b. [35] Jubilees xxx, 7; xx, 4; xli, 25, 26. For the Pharisaic view of the application of this penalty, see Mishna Sanh. ix, 1. [36] Mishna Sanh. vii, 2. R. Jehudah while upholding this method suggests a modification of the procedure. [37] Tos. Sanh. ix, 11. [38] Sanh. 52a. [39] Num. xvi, 35. [40] Lev. x, 2, 6. Sifra ed. Weiss ibid., 45c, 34; 46a, 41; Tosafoth Sanh. 52a. [41] Sanh. 52a; Sifra 45c, 34. But contrast Josephus _Antiq._, III, viii, 7, who says that their faces and breasts were burnt. [42] Baruch lxiii, 8; Susanna 62, LXX text, says that fire from heaven burnt the false witnesses after they had been precipitated. [43] Lekach Tob to Noach IX, 23; Tanhuma Noach 21, p. 25b. [44] Sanh. 52b. [45] N. Bruell, _Beth Talmud_, 7ff, quoted by Buechler _l. c._ 558, note 1. [46] Notice also the contradiction between Josephus’ account of the burning of Nadab and Abihu and the Pharisaic tradition referred to above, note 41. [47] E. g. II Kings x, 7. [48] Deut. xiii, 13-16. [49] Sanh. ix, 1; Mechilta to Exod. xxi, 12. [50] Scholion to Megillath Taanith 4. [51] Revel, _Jew. Quart. Rev._, New Series, III, 364, note 86. [52] Ritter, _Philo und die Halacha_, 18ff. [53] Matt. v, 38; see also xxvi, 52. [54] _Antiq._, IV, viii, 35. [55] Jubilees iv, 32. [56] Baba Kamma 84a. [57] Revel, _Jew. Quart. Rev._, New Series, III, 364-366. [58] Mechilta 83b to Ex. xxi, 20. [59] Sanh. vii, 3. [60] Similarly Baba Bathra 8b, Death by the sword is worse than a natural death because it disfigures. [61] Lev. xix, 18. [62] Deut. xxi. [63] Sanh. 52b; Mechilta 83b to Exod. xxi, 20; J. Sanh. VII, 24b. Also Genesis Rabba 44 beginning, and the legend of the _neck_ of Moses becoming hard as marble before the sword of Pharaoh. J. Berachoth, ix, 1 (where the exact phrase used by the Mishna occurs); Exod. Rab. 1 to Exod. ii, 15.