Talmud zu Bamidbar 15:24

HALAKHAH: “If the Court ruled but one of them knew that it was in error,” etc. The Mishnah is Rebbi’s, since Rebbi said, no one invalidates but the distinguished member of the Court (at Lydda) [only]⁷¹The ms. text, בלוד, “at Lydda” makes no sense since the High Court must sit in the ashlar hall on the Temple Mount. One has to read with B בלבד “only”. The president of the Court is the only one for whom no substitute can be found.. It is written¹²²Num. 15:24, detailing the rules governing the sacrifice of a goat if the Court unintentionally permitted idolatry. This is taken as biblical proof that the Court cannot rule in the absence of its president.: If from the eyes of the congregation, from him who is appointed as eyes of the congregation. It is written¹²³Num. 11:16, the appointment of the 70 Elders, the paradigm for the High Court. Babli 4b, they shall stand there with you. Just as you are neither proselyte, nor Gibeonite, nor a bastard¹²⁴As son of a man and his aunt, Moses would have been a bastard if his parents had married after the promulgation of Torah laws.. Proselytes are reasonable, but bastards? does the court appoints bastards? Rav Ḥuna said, when they breached the rules and appointed¹²⁵The exclusion of proselytes, Gibeonites, and bastards is strongly recommended but a breach does not invalidate the appointment.. Rebbi Ḥanania, Rebbi Mana. One said, as part of the Seventy; the other said, apart from the Seventy¹²⁶He holds that the exclusion is prescriptive; an appointment would be invalid.. He who said, apart from the Seventy, is understandable. But he who said, as part of the Seventy, therefore not apart from the Seventy? Since he is not suitable for ordination, he is considered like a stone¹²⁷If their vote cannot be counted, then automatically not all who are present are voting; therefore the false ruling will never trigger the obligation of a sacrifice..