56 In Maaser Sheni, Sota 24. 1, the duumvirate or suggoth, consisting of the president, Nasi, and vice-president, Ab-beth-din, are referred to Hyrcanus’s creation. Zunz affirms that it originated in the time of Simon, son of Mattathias, 142 B.C. 57 Antiq., xiv., 9. _ 58 Der gerichtliche Beweis_, p. 68. 59 The Sanhedrim _properly so called_ ceased under R. Judah I., Ha-Nasi, when the council of seventy members which sat at Sepphoris before his patriarchate, transferred its privileges to him, on his removal to that place. The court was then merged in the patriarch. 60 ננוזים literally concealed, withdrawn from public use. 61 See Fürst’s _Der Kanon des alten Testaments, u.s.w._ pp. 147, 148. _ 62 Tract. Sabbat._ ch. i. 63 Because of its profane spirit and Epicurean ideas; see Adoyot v. 3. 64 Yadayim v. 3. 65 See Graetz’s _Kohelet_, pp. 162, 163. 66 The sages wished to pronounce Coheleth apocryphal, because its statements are contradictory. And why have they not declared it apocryphal? Because it begins with words of the law, and ends with words of the law, for it opens with the words “What advantage has man in all his labor wherewith he labors under the sun?” &c., &c.—Sabbat. 30 b. So also in the Midrash: “The sages wished to pronounce Coheleth apocryphal,” &c., &c.—Vayyikra rabba 161 b. 67 R. Simeon ben Asai said, “I have received it from the mouth of the 72 elders in the day that R. Eleasar ben Asaria was appointed elder, that the Song of Songs and Coheleth pollute the hands.”—Yadayim v. 3. 68 This language was based on a figurative interpretation of the Song. One who said, “Whoever reads such writings as Sirach and the later books loses all part in everlasting life,” can have no weight. He outheroded the Palestinian tradition respecting the Jewish productions of later origin, which merely affirms that they “do not pollute the hands.”—(_Toss. Yadayim_, c. 2) _ 69 Studien zur Geschichte, u. s. w._, p. 150, &c. 70 Geiger’s _Urschrift_, p. 288. 71 See De Goeje in the _Theologisch Tijdschriff Jaargang II._ (1868) p. 179, &c. 72 Zunz’s _Die gottesdienstlichen Vorträge_, pp. 101, 102. 73 V. 20, p. 124, ed. Ueltzen. 74 Dillmann, in the _Jahrbücher für deutsche Theologie, dritter Band_, p. 422. 75 In his _Antiq._, x. 4, 5, and xi. 1-5. 76 iv. 6, sec. 3, and vi. 2, sec. 1. 77 xi. 8, sec. 5. 78 Article “Kanon” in Herzog’s _Encyklopædie_, vol. vii., p. 253; and the same author’s _Prolegomena zur Theologie des alt. Test._, pp. 91, 92. 79 See Abulfatach’s _Annal. Samar._, p. 102, 9, &c. 80 Kirschbaum, Weisse, and Noack. _ 81 Einleitung in das alte Testament_, vol. i. p. 133. _ 82 De vita contemplativa_, Opp. Tom. ii., P. 475, ed. Mangey. 83 See Credner’s _Zur Geschichte des Kanons_, p. 124.