Reference for Sanhedrin 69:2

וכתיב (במדבר כה, ד) ויאמר ה' אל משה קח את כל ראשי העם אם העם חטאו ראשי העם מה חטאו

If the people had sinned, wherein had the chiefs sinned?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Only the people are mentioned as sinning (vv. 2, 3), but not particularly the chiefs. ');">³</span> — Rab Judah said in Rab's name: The Holy One, blessed be He, said unto Moses: Divide them into [many] courts.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To try the sinners. The verse is accordingly translated: Take the chiefs of the people (and appoint them as judges,) and hang up them (whom they shall condemn) etc. ');">⁴</span>

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