VERS. XXXI.
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Led him away to crucifie him.
THESE things are delivered in Sanhedrim h 1.1, of one that is guilty of stoning: If there be no defence found for him, they lead him out to be stoned, and a cryer went be∣fore, saying aloud thus, N. the Son of N. comes out to be stoned, because he hath done so and so. The Witnesses against him are N. and N. whosoever can bring any thing in his defence, let him come forth and produce it. On which thus the Gemara of Babylon. The Tradition is, that on the evening of the Passover Jesus was hanged, and that a Cryer went before him for forty days, making this Proclamation, This man comes forth to be stoned, because he dealt in sorce∣ries, and perswaded and seduced Israel; whosoever knows of any defence for him, let him come forth and produce it: But no defence could be found, therefore they hanged him on the evening of the Passover. Ulla saith, His case seem'd not to admit of any defence, since he was a sedu∣cer, and of such God hath said, Thou shalt not spare him, neither shalt thou conceal him. (Deut. XIII.)
They led him that was to be stoned out of the City, Act. VII. 58. so also him that was to be crucified. i 1.2 The place of stoning was without the three Camps, for at Jerusalem there were three Camps, (namely Gods, the Levites, and the Peoples, as it was in the encamp∣ing in the Wilderness.) And in every city also, where there was a Council (namely of twenty three) the place of stoning was without the City. For all cities that have walls, bear a resem∣blance to the Camp of Israel.
Because Jesus was judged at a Heathen Tribunal, therefore a death is inflicted on him, not usual with the Jewish Council, namely Crucifixion. In several things the circumstan∣ces and actions belonging to his death, differed from the custom of the Jews in putting persons to death.
1. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 They never judg two on the same day k 1.3. But here besides Christ are two thieves judged.
2. They never carried one that was to be hanged to hanging, till near Sun-set l 1.4. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 They stay till near Sun-set, and then they pass sen∣tence, and execute him. And the reason is given by the Glosser, They do not perfect his judgment, nor hang him in the morning, lest they should neglect his burial and happen to for∣get themselves (and the Malefactor should hang till after Sun-set) but neer Sun-setting, so that they may bury him out of hand. But Christ was sentenced to death before noon, and at noon was nailed to the Cross. For,
3. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 They first put the condemned person to death, and then hanged him upon a tree: But the custom of the (Roman) Empire, is first to hang them, and then to put them to death ll 1.5.
4. They did not openly lament for those that were led forth to be put to death, but for Jesus they did. Luk. XXIII. 27, 28. The reason of this difference is not to be sought from the kind of the death, but from the persons. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 They did not bewail for a person led out to execution, but they lamented inwardly in their hearts m 1.6. You will wonder at the reason, which the Gloss thus gives you: They did not openly bewail him, upon this account, that his being vilified (when no body openly la∣mented him) might help to attone for him; but they sorrowed for him in their hearts; for this did not tend to his honour, nor lessen the attonement. These were better instructed, who la∣mented for Christ, both as to the thing and person.