Synagogue in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
sin'-a-gog:
1. Name
2. Origin
3. Spread of Synagogues
4. The Building
(1) The Site
(2) The Structure
(3) The Furniture
5. The Officials
(1) The Elders
(2) The Ruler
(3) The Servant (or Servants)
(4) Delegate of the Congregation
(5) The Interpreter
(6) The Almoners
6. The Service
(1) Recitation of the "Shema`"
(2) Prayers
(3) Reading of the Law and the Prophets
(4) The Sermon
(5) The Benediction
LITERATURE
1. Name:
Synagogue, Greek sunagoge, "gathering" (Acts 13:43),
"gathering-place" (Lk 7:5), was the name applied to the
Jewish place of worship in later Judaism in and outside of
Israel Proseuche, "a place of prayer" (Acts 16:13), was
probably more of the nature of an enclosure, marking off the
sacred spot from the profane foot, than of a roofed building
like a synagogue. Sabbateion in Ant, XV, i, 6, 2, most
probably also meant synagogue. In the Mishna we find for
synagogue beth ha-keneceth, in the Targums and Talmud be-
khenishta', or simply kenishta'. The oldest Christian
meetings and meeting-places were modeled on the pattern of
the synagogues, and, in Christian-Palestinian Aramaic the
word kenishta' is used for the Christian church (compare
Zahn, Tatian's Diatessaron, 335).
2. Origin:
That the synagogue was, in the time of our Lord, one of the
most important religious institutions of the Jews is clear
from the fact that it was thought to have been instituted by
Moses (Apion, ii, 17; Philo, De Vita Moses, iii.27; compare
Targum Jer to Ex 18:20). It must have come into being during
the Babylonian exile. At that time the more devout Jews, far
from their native land, having no sanctuary or altar, no
doubt felt drawn from time to time, especially on Sabbath
and feast days, to gather round those who were specially
pious and God-fearing, in order to listen to the word of God
and engage in some kind of worship. That such meetings were
not uncommon is made probable by Ezek 14:1; 20:1. This would
furnish a basis for the institution of the synagogue. After
the exile the synagogue remained and even developed as a
counterpoise to the absolute sacerdotalism of the temple,
and must have been felt absolutely necessary for the Jews of
the Dispersion. Though at first it was meant only for the
exposition of the Law, it was natural that in the course of
time prayers and preaching should be added to the service.
Thus these meetings, which at first were only held on
Sabbaths and feast days, came also to be held on other days,
and at the same hours with the services in the temple. The
essential aim, however, of the synagogue was not prayer, but
instruction in the Law for all classes of the people. Philo
calls the synagogues "houses of instruction, where the
philosophy of the fathers and all manner of virtues were
taught" (compare Mt 4:23; Mk 1:21; 6:2; Lk 4:15,33; 6:6;
13:10; Jn 6:59; 18:20; CAp, ii, 17).
3. Spread of Synagogues:
In Israel the synagogues were scattered all over the
country, all the larger...
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