i. These Houses of Meeting varied in size according to the town or village in which they were built[148]. They were usually erected on the highest ground available, and so constructed, that a worshipper, when entering, or kneeling in prayer, might have his face towards Jerusalem. Like the ancient Tabernacle, they were divided into two parts by a hanging veil, behind which, at the upper end or that facing Jerusalem, was the ark containing the Book of the Law. Before this veil were the “chief seats,” for which the Pharisees strove so eagerly (Matt. xxiii. 6); a silver lamp always kept burning; and an eight-branched candlestick, only lighted on the greater festivals. About the centre of the building was a raised platform, on which was a desk, where the reader _stood_ to read the lesson or _sat down_ to teach (Acts xiii. 16; Lk. iv. 20). All round were seats, where the men sat on one side, and the women on the other, separated by a low partition[149]. ii. The chief officers of each synagogue were (a) a kind of Chapter or college of elders, presided over by the _ruler of the Synagogue_ (Lk. viii. 41, 49; Acts xviii. 8, 17), who superintended the services, and had the power of excommunication[150]; (b) the _Sheliach_, or officiating minister, who read the prayers and the Law; (c) the _Chazzan_, ὑπηρέτης (Lk. iv. 20), a sort of deacon, whose office it was to open the doors, prepare the room for service, maintain order, scourge the condemned; (d) ten men called _Batlanim_ (men of leisure), who attended the week-day as well as sabbath services, and were at once representatives of the congregation, and collectors of alms[151]. iii. The worship of the Synagogues was on the model of the Temple Services, and at the same hours, the third, sixth, and ninth[152] (Acts iii. 1; x. 3, 9). On entering, the people bowed towards the ark, and took their places in the body of the building; the elders ranged themselves on the raised platform; the rich went up to the “chief seats” near the ark. A prayer was said, and a psalm was sung. Then the _Chazzan_ walked towards the veil, drew it aside with reverence, took out the Book of the Law from the ark; and as he carried it to the platform, on which the _Sheliach_ stood, every one pressed forward to kiss or touch it with his hand. Taking the roll, the _Sheliach_ rose, and commenced reading a portion according to a fixed cycle, the interpreter rendering the sacred verses from the Hebrew into the vulgar tongue[153]. The writings of the Prophets formed a second lesson, and were also read according to a fixed order. Then followed the delivery by one of the Elders sitting, of the _word of exhortation_ (Lk. iv.; Acts xiii. 15), at the close of which the roll of the Law was carried back towards the ark, while as before, men and women stretched out their hands and tried to touch or kiss it. The Law replaced in the ark, the Prayers began and were carried on till the close of the service.