The Early Synagogue: Where Scripture Is Read

The synagogue is often portrayed as a place where Jews gather to hear scripture read. Josephus and Philo attribute this practice to Moses and present it as an aspect of the biblical law of the Sabbath. Philo, in That Every Good Person Is Free, also describes the practice of instruction in the law in the context of his portrayal of the lifestyle of the Essenes (see Descriptions of the Essenes). The New Testament books of Luke and Acts refer to synagogue readings from the Torah and Prophets. Rabbinic literature delves into the laws surrounding these readings in some detail, considering such questions as whether scripture is read standing or sitting, how long each reading should be, and how many people should read. In contrast to Philo, Josephus, and the New Testament, which mention gathering in the synagogue to read scripture only on the Sabbath, b. Megillah 21b also refers to scriptural readings on Mondays and Thursdays.