Sanhedrin 40A

מתני׳ היו בודקין אותן בשבע חקירות: באיזו שבוע, באיזו שנה, באיזו חודש, בכמה בחדש, באיזה יום, באיזו שעה, באיזה מקום. רבי יוסי אומר: באיזה יום, באיזו שעה, באיזה מקום.

Mishnah: The court would examine the witnesses in capital cases with 7 interrogations, i.e., interrogatory questions, and they are: In which 7-year period, that is, in which cycle of 7 years within a jubilee did the event occur; in which year of the Sabbatical cycle did the event occur; in which month did the event occur; on which day of the month did the event occur; on which day of the week did the event occur; at which hour did the event occur; and in what place did the event occur. R' Yosei says: The court would examine the witnesses with only 3 interrogations: On which day did the event occur, at which hour, and in what place.

מכירין אתם אותו? התרתם בו? העובד עבודה זרה: את מי עבד, ובמה עבד?

They would also ask: Do you recognize him as the man who committed the transgression? Did you warn him? They would then ask the witnesses about the particulars of the incident. For example: in the case of one who is an accused idol worshipper, they ask the witnesses: Whom, i.e., which idol, did he worship, and in what manner did he worship it, and so on.

כל המרבה בבדיקות ⁠– הרי זה משובח. מעשה ובדק בן זכאי בעוקצי תאנים.

With regard to all judges who increase the number of examinations, i.e., who add questions about the details of the event, this is praiseworthy, as this may clarify that the witnesses are lying. An incident occurred and ben Zakkai examined the witnesses by questioning them about the color and shape of the stems of figs in order to unearth a contradiction between the witnesses.

מה בין חקירות לבדיקות? חקירות ⁠– אחד אומר ״איני יודע״, עדותן בטילה. בדיקות ⁠– אחד אומר ״איני יודע״, ואפילו שנים אומרים ״אין אנו יודעין״, עדותן קיימת. אחד חקירות ואחד בדיקות, בזמן שמכחישין זה את זה ⁠– עדותן בטילה.

The Mishnah explains: What is the difference between interrogations and examinations? With regard to interrogations, if one of the witnesses says: I do not know the answer, their testimony is void immediately. With regard to examinations, if one says: I do not know the answer, and even if two say: We do not know the answer, their testimony still stands. Both with regard to interrogations and examinations, at a time when the witnesses contradict one another, their testimony is void.