7. The Blasphemer

7. The Blasphemer.

M.VII. 5. The blasphemer 2 is not guilty until he have expressly uttered the Name. According to R. Jehoshua, the son of Karha, the witnesses throughout are examined by means of pseudonyms: 3 for example " Jose strikes Jose." But when the trial is over the sentence is not carried out under a pseudonym: all are sent out of the room except the chief witness, and it is said to him: "Say expressly what you heard." He does so, whereupon the judges stand up and rend their clothes; 4 and they may not mend them again. The second witness then says, "I heard the same," and the third says, "I too heard the same."