by rabbinic literature

“ What are they divided over? The Rabbis hold the view that the traditional Scripture text is authoritative in biblical interpretation (Hebrew: Yesh em lemesoreth) . [Meaning, since the Hebrew characters in the Torah are written without phonetics, one is able to assign to the text any vocalization that he chooses if it serves his purpose in a particular exegesis] . But Rabbi Shimon holds the view that the tradition of reading (i.e. orthography and the letters with their traditional vowel symbols received orally at Sinai) is authoritative in biblical interpretation (Hebrew: Yesh em lemiqra) . ”

“ Seeing that the rendering of any judgment is [ordinarily made] by three judges, it is for this reason that he (Rebbe) holds the opinion that when the Torah writes about [the necessity of having] three judges, the sense is that the verdict be reached by three judges. ”

“ Here we learn of the necessity of there being at least two judges. [Meaning, since the verb has come down unto us in the plural form] . Now below [that passage of Scripture] it says elohim (i.e. the Hebrew word for "judge/s," which we have already established is at least two) , and above [that passage of Scripture] it says elohim. Just as the word [written] below means two, so does that word above mean two, but since a court cannot be equal in number, they add thereto another member, hence: five judges!" ”