Nasi

NASI, or Nashi, that is, Prince.¹ The Hebrews give this name to the Heads of the Tribes of the great Families, and even to the Princes of the People. At this Day it is in a Manner appropriated to signify the Chief, the President, the first Judge of the Sanhedrim. Simon Maccabeus was honoured with the same Title, after he had rescued himself out of his dependance upon the Greeks. He has the Name of Nasi upon his Medals. The Prince or the Nasi of the Sanhedrim, was the Depository of the Oral Law or Tradition, which Moses, according to the Rabbins, had entrusted with the seventy Elders, who made up this Assembly. Those that are of Opinion, that the Sanhedrim has always subsisted since its first Institution by Moses, must also make the Dignity of the Nasi as antient as this; but those that maintain the Sanhedrim to be much more modern, hold also that the Office of Nasi is of no longer Date. Some will have Esdras to have first introduced this Office, and that he annexed it to the Family of David. When Hillel came from Babylon, under the Reign of Herod, about thirty Years before Jesus Christ, he exercised this Function with great splendour. After the Destruction of Jerusalem, this Name of Prince was changed into that of Patriarch, or Head of the Captivity. ‘Tis necessary to know their Titles, in order to understand the Language of the Rabbins, and of such Authors who have treated of the Republick or other Affairs of the Jews.

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