Jewish Institutions
The Synagogues
The synagogue and the Temple were the two main Jewish institutions in the Intertestamental period. It seems like the synagogues were the most influential institutions during this period. The synagogues first appeared shortly after the temple was destroyed. It was not a substitute for the Temple worship but a supplement to them. (1) The synagogue was a place for reading the Scripture and a place for prayer. (2) “Reading of the Law were organized in a way that assured consecutive coverage of the whole of the Mosaic books in a three-year cycle.” (3) After reading the Law, a teacher would come forward and explain to the crowd what the Law meant and how it should be applied.
Another important part of the synagogue was a school. “In about the second century B.C., synagogue rabbis assumed the role of teachers for boys beginning at age six.” (4) Before this time, there was no formal teaching for the children, and most, if not all, teaching was done at home. Many believe this shift occurred because of the spread of Hellenism and the importance of education.
The Temple
The Temple was another important institution during this time. Each morning, lots were cast to determine which priests were to perform which duties. These priests then ensured that everything was prepared for the sacrifices and that the courts had not been defiled.
Every morning and evening, a lamb would be sacrificed for the forgiveness of the sins of the Jews. After which the “priests and worshipers recited the Ten Commandments, the Shema, benedictions, and other prayers. The Mishnah set the particular psalm to be sung each day of the week.” (5) Most of the Jews, even those of the Diaspora, viewed the Temple as holy. During the annual festivals, many Jews flocked to the Temple for worship. (6)
Bibliography
1 .J. Julius Scott Kr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1995), 139.
2. Ibid., 140.
3. Ibid., 142.
4. Thomas D. Lea and David Alan Black, The New Testament Its Background and Message, (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2003), 39.
5. Scott, 151.
6. Ibid.
