Trial

Information on the subject of trials under the Jewish law will be found in the articles on Judges and Sanhedrin, and also in Jesus Christ CHRIST.

TRI'AL. Judicial procedure was usually very swift and simple; no such formalities as are common with us could have existed in the patriarchal or the Mosaic days. The patriarchs were the natural guardians of the public peace. When the Israelites had multiplied into a great nation and were living in the wilderness, Moses found his attempted imitation of the patriarchal judgeship was too laborious, and therefore gladly adopted the suggestion of Jethro and appointed inferior judges for minor cases. Ex 18:13-26; Deut 1:9-17. There is an appearance of appellate courts in Judah in the days of Jehoshaphat. Originally, it is probable, each man or woman pleaded for himself or herself; but when the Jews passed under the Roman domain, they were required to hire pleaders. Acts 24:1-9. Judges are repeatedly exhorted to act justly. Deut 16:18-19; Isa 1:23-24; Luke 18:1-6. In criminal cases at least two witnesses were necessary. Deut 17:6; 1 Kgs 19:15. If the witnesses swore falsely, then they were to be punished as the accused would have been had he been guilty. Deut 19:16-21. The cases of Christ and Stephen illustrated how short an interval elapsed between sentence and execution.

TRI'AL. Judicial procedure was usually very swift and simple; no such formalities as are common with us could have existed in the patriarchal or the Mosaic days. The patriarchs were the natural guardians of the public peace. When the Israelites had multiplied into a great nation and were living in the wilderness, Moses found his attempted imitation of the patriarchal judgeship was too laborious, and therefore gladly adopted the suggestion of Jethro and appointed inferior judges for minor cases. Ex 18:13-26; Deut 1:9-17. There is an appearance of appellate courts in Judah in the days of Jehoshaphat. Originally, it is probable, each man or woman pleaded for himself or herself; but when the Jews passed under the Roman domain, they were required to hire pleaders. Acts 24:1-9. Judges are repeatedly exhorted to act justly. Deut 16:18-19; Isa 1:23-24; Luke 18:1-6. In criminal cases at least two witnesses were necessary. Deut 17:6; 1 Kgs 19:15. If the witnesses swore falsely, then they were to be punished as the accused would have been had he been guilty. Deut 19:16-21. The cases of Christ and Stephen illustrated how short an interval elapsed between sentence and execution.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The act of trying or testing in any manner. Specifically: --

2. Any effort or exertion of strength for the purpose of ascertaining what can be done or effected. [I] defy thee to the trial of mortal fight. Milton.

3. The act of testing by experience; proof; test. Repeated trials of the issues and events of actions. Bp. Wilkins.

4. Examination by a test; experiment, as in chemistry, metallurgy, etc.

5. The state of being tried or tempted; exposure to suffering that tests strength, patience, faith, or the like; affliction or temptation that exercises and proves the graces or virtues of men. Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings. Heb. xi. 36.

6. That which tries or afflicts; that which harasses; that which tries the character or principles; that which tempts to evil; as, his child's conduct was a sore trial. Every station is exposed to some trials. Rogers.

7. The formal examination of the matter in issue in a cause before a competent tribunal; the mode of determining a question of fact in a court of law; the examination, in legal form, of the facts in issue in a cause pending before a competent tribunal, for the purpose of determining such issue.

Synonyms: Test; attempt; endeavor; effort; experiment; proof; essay. See Test, and Attempt.