In _Jerusalem_ there were[208] four hundred eighty _Synagogues_, besides the _Temple_; partly for _Jews_, partly for _strangers_: one for strangers was called the _Synagogue of the Libertines_, _Act. 6. 9._ Whence it had that name, whether from the _Roman Libertines_, such as had served for their freedom, being opposite to the _Ingenui_, those that were free-born; (for many of those _Libertines_ became _Proselites_, and had their _Synagogues_[209]) or whether it were from _Lubar_,[210] signifying an _high-place_; (for as their _Temple_, so their _Synagogues_ and _Schools_ were built on _hills_ and _high-places_) because it is said, _Prov. 1. 21._ _Wisdome calleth in high-places_: I leave to the judgment of the Reader.
[208] _Sigonius de rep. Hebr. l. 2. cap. 8._
Out of _Jerusalem_, in other Cities and Provinces, were many _Synagogues_: there were _Synagogues_ in _Galilee_, _Mat. 4. 23._ _Synagogues_ in _Damascus_, _Acts 9. 2._ _Synagogues_ at _Salamis_, _Act. 13. 5._ _Synagogues_ at _Antiochia_, _Acts 13. 14._ Yea, their tradition is that[211] _Wheresoever ten men of ~Israel~ were, there ought to be built a Synagogue_.
[211] _Maimon. in Tephilla. c. 11. Sect. 1._
Their _Synagogues_ had[212] many Inscriptions; _over the gate_ was written that of the _Psal. 118. 20._ _This is the gate of the Lord, the righteous shall enter into it._ In the _walls_, these and the like sentences; _Remember thy Creator, & enter into the house of the Lord thy God in humility_. And _prayer without attention is like a body is like a body without a soul_. And _silence is commendable in time of prayer_.
[212] _Buxtorf. de abbreviatur. pag. 23. 81. 174._
As the _Courts_ of the people before the _Temple_ were distinguished by a wall into two rooms, the one for men, the other for women: so in the _Synagogues_, the women were separated from the men,[213] by a partition of Lattice, or wire-work.
[213] _Talmud in tract. Suta cap. ult. vi. Buxtorf. Synag. c. 9. p. 240._
In the _Synagogues_ the Scribes ordinarily taught, but not only they, for _Christ_ himself taught in them, _&c._ He that gave liberty to preach there, was termed ἀρχισυναγώγος. _The Ruler of the Synagogue._ There was also a _Minister_ who gave the book unto the _Preacher_, and received it again, after the Text had been read. _Christ closed the book, and gave it again unto the Minister_, _Luke 4. 20._ This is probably he, whom they called שליח צבור _Sheliach Tsibbur_, the _Minister_ or _Clerk_ of the _Synagogue_.