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CHRISTIANITY IN TALMUD
The first part of this passage will be mentioned in
another connexion subsequently (p. 308) ; I quote it
here because it refers to the Minim, heretics, whose
false interpretation made it desirable not to introduce
the Decalogue into the daily service. Coming im-
mediately after this statement, may not the mention
of the Parashah of Balak and Balaam, and its
exclusion from the daily prayers, have also some
reference to the misrepresentations of heretics?
From the parallel passage, b. Ber. 12b, it appears
that the various reasons given by the Rabbis are
reasons for the inclusion, not the exclusion, of the
Parashah from the daily prayers. And the exclusion
is justified on the ground that, the passage being
very long, the recital of it would weary the con-
gregation. The Babylonian Gemara distinctly says
that it was proposed to include the Parashah, and
that the proposal was not entertained.
There is, I admit, hardly anything in this passage
to connect it directly with anti-Christian polemic ;
but yet I think there is enough to show that a
special interest attached to the Parashah of Balaam ;
and we may, with a fair degree of probability, define
that special interest by what we have already learnt
as to the connexion between Balaam and Jesus.
THE TRIAL OF JESUS
(19) T. Sanh. x.
11.-In regard to all who are
worthy of death according to the Torah, they
do not use concealment against them, except
in the case of the deceiver. How do they
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