In biblical times, meeting-places served as essential locations for worship, teaching, community gatherings, and the administration of justice. These venues varied in form and function throughout the biblical narrative, reflecting the evolving religious and social practices of the Israelites and early Christians.

Old Testament Meeting-places

1. The Tabernacle: The Tabernacle, also known as the Tent of Meeting, was the primary meeting-place for the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. It was a portable sanctuary where God dwelled among His people. The Tabernacle was meticulously constructed according to divine instructions given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25-27). It served as the central place for sacrifices, offerings, and divine communication. "Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle" (Exodus 40:34).

2. The Temple: Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem became the permanent meeting-place for worship after the Israelites settled in the Promised Land. It was the focal point of Jewish religious life, where sacrifices were offered, and festivals were celebrated. The Temple symbolized God's presence and covenant with Israel. "I have consecrated this temple which you have built, to put My Name there forever; My eyes and My heart will be there for all time" (1 Kings 9:3).

3. Synagogues: Although not explicitly mentioned in the Old Testament, synagogues emerged during the Babylonian exile as local centers for prayer, teaching, and community gatherings. By the time of Jesus, synagogues were well-established throughout Judea and the Diaspora. They played a crucial role in maintaining Jewish religious life outside the Temple.

New Testament Meeting-places

1. The Upper Room: The Upper Room in Jerusalem is a significant meeting-place in the New Testament. It was the site of the Last Supper, where Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper with His disciples (Luke 22:12-20). After the resurrection, the disciples gathered there in prayer and anticipation of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:13-14).

2. House Churches: In the early Christian era, believers often met in private homes for worship, teaching, and fellowship. These house churches were intimate settings where the early Christians broke bread, prayed, and shared the apostles' teachings. "Greet also the church that meets at their house" (Romans 16:5).

3. Public Spaces: The apostles and early Christians frequently used public spaces for preaching and teaching. The apostle Paul, for example, taught in the lecture hall of Tyrannus in Ephesus (Acts 19:9) and spoke in synagogues and marketplaces throughout his missionary journeys (Acts 17:17).

Significance of Meeting-places

Meeting-places in the Bible were not merely physical locations but were imbued with spiritual significance. They were places where God revealed Himself, where His people gathered to worship, and where the community of believers was strengthened. These venues facilitated the transmission of faith, the practice of religious rituals, and the fostering of communal identity. As such, meeting-places were integral to the religious and social fabric of biblical communities, serving as tangible expressions of God's presence and the unity of His people.4150. moed -- appointed time, place, or meeting
... 1), assembly (2), definite time (1), feasts (2), festal assemblies (1), fixed festivals
(3), meeting (147), meeting place (1), meeting places (1), season (4 ...
/hebrew/4150.htm - 7k

The Heretics are Deprived of their Meeting Places.
... Book III. Chapter LXV."The Heretics are deprived of their Meeting Places.
"Forasmuch, then, as it is no longer possible to bear ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter lxv the heretics are deprived.htm

The Peace under Gallienus.
... [2276] The use of their cemeteries, both as places of burial and as meeting-places
for religious worship, had been denied to the Christians by Valerian. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xiii the peace under gallienus.htm

The Growth of the Church. The Dawn of the Second Century was Full ...
... of the magistrate interposed to prevent the spread of the new doctrine; and spies
were found willing to dog the steps and to discover the meeting-places of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the growth of.htm

Introduction
... and Spirit, the prefect, "who seems to have been bored at the prospect of a sermon,"
[644] tried in vain to get more information about Christian meeting places ...
//christianbookshelf.org/richardson/early christian fathers/introduction 6.htm

Christianity in Rome.
... In the early part of Nero's reign (54-68) the Roman congregation was already well
known throughout Christendom, had several meeting places and a considerable ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 36 christianity in rome.htm

Appendix xvi. On the Jewish views About Demons' and the Demonised ...
... Hyrecanus, and others. There seem even to have been regular meeting-places
for discussion between Jews and Christians. Nay, the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xvi on the jewish.htm

the life of constantine
... Chapter LXIV.--Constantine's Edict against the Heretics. Chapter
LXV.--The Heretics are deprived of their Meeting Places. Chapter ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pamphilius/the life of constantine/

The Journey of the Three Holy Kings to Bethlehem
The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. <. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xiii the journey of the.htm

Eusebius: Constantine. General Index.
... Hercules, [3819]590, [3820]601. Heretics, edict against, [3821]539; deprived of
their meeting places, [3822]539; may return to Catholic Church, [3823]540. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/eusebius constantine general index.htm

Meeting-places (3 Occurrences)
Meeting-places. Meeting-place, Meeting-places. Meetings .
Multi-Version Concordance Meeting-places (3 Occurrences). ...
/m/meeting-places.htm - 7k

Meeting-place (10 Occurrences)
Meeting-place. Meeting, Meeting-place. Meeting-places . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(BBE). Meeting, Meeting-place. Meeting-places . Reference Bible.
/m/meeting-place.htm - 9k

Meetings (14 Occurrences)

/m/meetings.htm - 10k

Doorways (26 Occurrences)
... the wall. (BBE). Proverbs 1:21 Her words are sounding in the meeting-places,
and in the doorways of the town: (BBE). Proverbs 8:3 ...
/d/doorways.htm - 14k

Oppress (57 Occurrences)
... Psalms 74:8 They said in their hearts, 'Let us oppress them together,' They
did burn all the meeting-places of God in the land. (YLT). ...
/o/oppress.htm - 24k

Synagogue (52 Occurrences)
... The oldest Christian meetings and meeting-places were modeled on the pattern of
the synagogues, and, in Christian-Palestinian Aramaic the word kenishta' is ...
/s/synagogue.htm - 50k

Sounding (99 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Proverbs 1:21 Her words are
sounding in the meeting-places, and in the doorways of the town: (BBE). ...
/s/sounding.htm - 37k

Walls (152 Occurrences)
... your walls. (BBE). Proverbs 1:21 Her words are sounding in the meeting-places,
and in the doorways of the town: (See RSV). Proverbs 25 ...
/w/walls.htm - 38k

Speech (107 Occurrences)
... not. (See JPS). Proverbs 1:21 Her words are sounding in the meeting-places,
and in the doorways of the town: (See NIV). Proverbs 2 ...
/s/speech.htm - 36k

Speaks (109 Occurrences)
... lying. (See NAS). Proverbs 1:21 Her words are sounding in the meeting-places,
and in the doorways of the town: (See RSV). Proverbs ...
/s/speaks.htm - 34k

What was the tent of meeting? | GotQuestions.org

Questions about Places in the Bible (All) | GotQuestions.org

Places in Israel ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org

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