The Council or "Wadd Arba Aratzoth" "reminded one of the Sanhedrin, which in ancient days assembled... in the temple. They dispensed justice to all the Jews of the Polish realm, issued preventive measures and obligatory enactments ("takkanoth"), and imposed penalties as they saw fit. All difficult cases were brought before their court. To facilitate matters delegates appointed 'provincial judges' ("dayyane medinoth") to settle disputes concerning property, while they themselves plenary session examined criminal cases, matters pertaining to "hazaka" (priority of possession) and other difficult matters of law." "The Council of the Four Lands was the guardian of Jewish civil interests in Poland. It sent its "shtadlans" to the residential city of Warsaw and other meeting-places of the Polish Diets for the purpose of securing from the king and his dignitaries the ratification of the ancient Jewish privileges. ... But the main energy of the "Waad" was directed toward the regulation of the inner life of the Jews. The statute of 1607, framed the Rabbi of Lublin, is typical of this solicitude. [Its rules were prescribed for the purpose of fostering piety and commercial integrity among the Jewish people.