Scribes

Scribes (Heb. sopherim), a class of Hebrew officials, who appear to have originally exercised military functions. Afterwards the name was applied to those who copied the books of the law. After the return from the Captivity they seem to have been recognised as its interpreters also. Thus the term came to denote a man learned in the law, and eventually the Scribes occupied a threefold position, preserving the body of law and tradition, holding public classes in the Temple, and administering the law in the courts of Justice.