23:2: The scriptural scholars and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat.
ἐπὶ τῆς Μωϋσέως καθέδρας = בְּקָתֶדְרָא דְמשֶׁה.
The words “they sit on Moses’ seat” designate the scriptural scholars
as holders of teaching authority.—From a scholar from the beginning of the 4th
century we learn that there was a special kind of leaning chair (probably seats
for the heads of the schools) that were called “Moses’ seat” קתדרא דמשה.
Pesiqta 7B: “The throne had a round head in the back” (1 Kgs 10:19).
R. Aha (ca. 320) said, “Like a seat of Moses.”727—In the parallel
passage in Midr. Esth. 1:2 (85A) the text is corrupt.—Things are different with
Moses’ קתדרא in Exod. Rab. 43 (99B): “I sat on the
mountain for 40 days and 40 nights” (so the Midrash, Deut 9:9). Is it possible
that Moses sat while God stood? R. Darosa (in the 4th century) said,
“God made him a leaning chair קתדרה
after the kind of the leaning chair of a solicitor. When the latter come before
a sovereign, they appear to stand while they merely sit. And here too (in
Moses’ case) it was so: there was a sitting that appeared like a standing.”
(Hermann L. Strack and Paul Billerbeck, A Commentary on the New
Testament from the Talmud and Midrash, ed. Jacob N. Cerone, 4 vols. [trans.
Andrew Bowden and Joseph Longarino; Bellingham, Wash.: Lexham Press, 2022], 1:1043)
