The Jewish high council in Israel during biblical times. In Dryden’s poem, the Sanhedrin represent the English Parliament. Many members of the Sanhedrin turn against David in “Absalom and Achitophel,” just as the Whig party opposed the monarchy in Dryden’s own time.
Sanhedrin Quotes in Absalom and Achitophel
The Absalom and Achitophel quotes below are all either spoken by Sanhedrin or refer to Sanhedrin. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Absalom and Achitophel
Quotes
But when should people strive their bonds to break
If not when kings are negligent or weak?
Let him give on till he can give no more;
The thrifty Sanhedrin shall keep him poor,
And every shekel which he can receive
Shall cost a limb of his prerogative.
To ply him with new plots shall be my care,
Or plunge him deep in some expensive war,
Which, when his treasure can no more supply,
He must with the remains of kingship buy.
His faithful friends our jealousies and fears
Call Jebusites and Pharaoh’s pensioners,
Whom, when our fury from his aid has torn,
He shall be naked left to public scorn.
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Explanation and Analysis:
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Sanhedrin Term Timeline in Absalom and Achitophel
The timeline below shows where the term Sanhedrin appears in Absalom and Achitophel. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Absalom and Achitophel
...to give all he has to the people. Once all the money is gone, the Sanhedrin will make sure that David remains poor, and any bit of money he wants will...
(full context)
...well be ruined. Where are our ethics, the poet further asks, if the masses and Sanhedrin alike are “infected with this public lunacy” and look “to murder monarchs for imagined crimes”?
(full context)
...over the “western dome” and leads the “prophets’ sons.” Adriel is a member of the Sanhedrins, but he is true to David. There is also Jotham and Hushai, whose allegiance to...
(full context)
...look on with sadness as the rebels try to take down the “lawful government.” The Sanhedrins try to strip David of his “regal rights” and attempt to disrupt the “true succession”...
(full context)
...believe that Absalom is really a “patriot” but more of a “fool.” As for the Sanhedrins, David reminds them that he is still part of the government. The Sanhedrins need David...
(full context)
