3. The processes of prosecution are not specially described. In cases of a personal, private character, the aggrieved party brought suit. In cases of a public nature “the elders of the city” bore responsibilities, as we see in the case of murder by an unknown hand. A remarkable case of appeal to the sensibilities of the whole nation is given Judg. 19: 25–30, under which the people woke to a consciousness of horrible wickedness in Israel, and their indignation became irrepressible; yet they carefully sought counsel of the Lord in this terrible case. 4. _Advocates._ We find no notice of professional advocates. The “lawyers” of New Testament history were men versed in the law and were teachers of law, but not by any means the modern advocate. Every man might be his own advocate, and even women were heard before no less a king than Solomon himself (1 Kings 3: 16–18). Noble-hearted, disinterested men seem in Oriental life to have undertaken this service voluntarily for the poor and the fatherless, of which Job gives a touching description (Job 29: 7–17). Isaiah exhorts to this duty: “Plead for the widow” (1: 17). It was the noble doctrine of this system――“Our law judges no man before it hears him and knows what he doeth” (Jn. 7: 51). Moses puts it thus――“Ye shall hear the small as well as the great” (Deut. 1: 17). “If there arise a matter in judgment between blood and blood, _between plea and plea_,” etc. (Deut. 17: 8). 5. _Of Witnesses_――the points of chief importance are these: (1.) They testified under oath――the manner of administration being this: The witness listened to the rehearsal of the words, and gave his oral assent, “Amen,” or, “As thou sayest.” The passage (Lev. 5: 1) describes the case of one who sins in this way, hearing the voice――_i. e._ the words of the sacred oath, adjuring him to testify whether he has seen or known any thing in this case. Then if he will not make known, “he shall bear his iniquity.”――――A special statute for the case of a wife suspected of conjugal infidelity shows how she is to be put under this solemn oath (Num. 5: 19–22). She listens to the words of the oath and responds, “Amen, amen.” (See also Prov. 29: 24 and Mat. 26: 63). (2.) That the witnesses were examined separately and in presence of the accused appears probable from a comparison of Mat. 26: 61 with Mk. 14: 55–59. Jesus was present (Mat. 26: 62). (3) As to the requisite number of witnesses――a criminal case of capital crime required two besides the accuser (Deut. 17: 6 and 19: 15). Hence the phrase――“In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (Mat. 18: 16).――――A supposed case is stated (Ex. 22: 10, 11) in which the complainant and the accused are the only witnesses. Both are put under oath; but the testimony of the accused under oath seems to be accepted as his vindication.