Page 608
VERS. XIII.
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To Annas first.
FOR Annas was Father-in-law to Caiaphas, as also 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Sagan of the Priests, Luk. III. 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Targ. in 2 King. XXIII. 4. Now Sagan was the same with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Prefect or Ruler, which we have so frequent mention of amongst the Rabbins.
f 1.1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Ruler saith unto them. Gloss. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Ruler is the Sagan g 1.2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Sagan is the same with Ruler.
There is frequent mention amongst the Talmudists of R. Ananias 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Sa∣gan of the Priests h 1.3: He was destroy'd with Rabban Simeon, and Ismael, at the siege of Jerusalem i 1.4. But I am apt to think he was that sharp and unjust Judg that St. Paul had to do with Act. XXIII. rather than our Annas in this place.
Why they should carry our Saviour when they had taken him before Annas the Sagan,* 1.5 sooner than to Caiaphas the High Priest, the Evangelist gives us one reason, viz. because he was Father-in-law to Caiaphas; under which another reason may be deduced, viz. that he was the older man, of greater experience and skill in the Law; for there were some∣times some High Priests that were very unlearned fellows, as may be gather'd from that supposition in Joma k 1.6, If the High Priest be a wise man, he expounds, if not they expound to him. If he be accustom'd to reading, he reads himself, if not, they read before him.
But for the Sagan of the Priests it was very necessary he should be a man of learning, be∣cause his charge was about the things and service of the Temple, and was bound to be al∣ways assistant and present there, when the High Priest was seldom there, or convers'd in those affairs.
Juchasin and Aruch, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 No one could by right be promoted to the High Priesthood, unless he had first been Sagan. A good cautelous pro∣vision indeed, that so in the time of their Saganship they might gain experience in the Laws and Rituals, and might be the better fitted for the High Priests Chair. But when it came to that pass that persons were made High Priests for their money, and not for their deserts, it might easily happen that very unlearned wretches might sometimes possess that seat. And perhaps Caiphas himself was of this stamp.
It seems therefore that they led Jesus to Annas first, that Caiaphas might be directed by his counsel; himself being but little versed in things of this nature might proceed in this affair by the steerage of his Father-in-law. And let this High Priest pardon me if I ascribe that sentence of his, It is expedient that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole Nation perish, not to his prudence and gravity, but to his rashness and cru∣elty; although the Holy Spirit directed it to its proper end which the High Priest himself did not dream of.
There might be another reason why they led Christ before Annas first, but that I shall speak of anon.
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Who was the High Priest that same year.
If the Gloss I had upon these very same words, Chap. XI. 51. will not so well fit here, as they did there, we may add this also, which will suit well enough in both places; that is, that there was so great a vicissitude and change in the High Priesthood, there be∣ing a new High Priest almost every year, that it was not unnecessary to set down this par∣ticular circumstance, Caiaphas was High Priest for that year.
l 1.7 In the second Temple which stood but 420 years, there were more than three hundred High Priests within that time. Of these 420 years deduct those forty wherein Simeon the Just mini∣stred, and those eighty wherein Johanan sat, and those ten wherein Ismael ben Phabi, and as it is said, those eleven wherein Eleazar ben Harsom govern'd, and then reckon and you will find that hardly any other High Priest sat out his whole year.
But this number of High Priests is very much lessen'd in Vajicra rabba m 1.8, Under the first Temple, because they that serv'd therein served in the truth; there were but eighteen High Priests, the Father, and Son, and Grandson successively. But under the second Temple when that honour came to be obtain'd by money [there are also that say how they murder'd one ano∣ther by charms and witchcrafts] there were fourscore High Priests serv'd in that time; fourscore and one, say some; fourscore and two say others, and there are that say fourscore and four. A∣mongst these, Simeon the Just sat forty years; but when the place was bought and sold, the years of enjoying it were cut short. The story goes of one that sent his Son with two bushels of silver, [to purchase the High Priests office] and the bushels themselves were silver. Another sent his Son with two bushels of gold, and the bushels themselves were of gold too.