Matthew refers to these three orders and identifies the tribunal that passed judgment upon Christ: "From that time forth, began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and raised again the third day."[82] Theoretically, under the Hebrew constitution, the "seventy-one" of the three chambers were to be equally divided: Twenty-three in the chamber of priests, Twenty-three in the chamber of scribes, Twenty-three in the chamber of elders. A total of sixty-nine, together with the two presiding officers, would constitute the requisite number, seventy-one. But, practically, this arrangement was rarely ever observed. The theocratic structure of the government of Israel and the pious regard of the people for the guardians of the Temple, gave the priestly element a predominating influence from time to time. The scribes, too, were a most vigorous and aggressive sect and frequently encroached upon the rights and privileges of the other orders. Abarbanel, one of the greatest of the Hebrew writers, has offered this explanation: "The priests and scribes naturally predominated in the Sanhedrin because, not having like the other Israelites received lands to cultivate and improve, they had abundant time to consecrate to the study of law and justice, and thus became better qualified to act as judges."[83] _Qualifications of Members of the Great Sanhedrin._--The following qualifications were requisite to entitle an applicant to membership in the Great Sanhedrin: (1) _He must have been a Hebrew and a lineal descendant of Hebrew parents._[84] (2) _He must have been "learned in the law"; both written and unwritten._ His legal attainment must have included an intimate acquaintance with all the enactments of the Mosaic Code, with traditional practices, with the precepts and precedents of the colleges, with the adjudications of former courts and the opinions of former judges. He must have been familiar not only with the laws then actively in force, but also with those that had become obsolete.[85] (3) _He must have had judicial experience; that is, he must have already filled three offices of gradually increasing dignity, beginning with one of the local courts, and passing successively through two magistracies at Jerusalem._[86] (4) _He must have been thoroughly proficient in scientific knowledge._