Proseuche προσευχή, the name for the Jewish pla ce of worship, originally meant ‘prayer,’ afterwards ‘place of prayer’ (τόπος τ ῆ ς προσευχ ῆ ς, 1Ma 3:46). The word is found in 3Ma 7:20; Philo, in Flacc. 6, 7, 14 (Mangey, ii. 523, 524, 535), Leg. ad Gaium, 20, 43, 46 (Mangey, ii. 565, 596, 600); Josephus, Vita, 54, where it is described as ‘a large edifice capable of receiving a great number of people.’ As a rule, however, the Proseuche was situated outside the city, near the river or the sea, where there was a supply of water for the ablutions required before prayer (see Acts 16:13 f. and Josephus, Ant. XIV. x. 23; cf. Tertullian, de Jejuniis, 16, ad Nationes, i. 13; and Epiphanius, HAEr. lxxx. 1). Frequently these prayers seem to have been said in the open air (cf. also Josephus, c. Apion. II. ii. 2). This would best account for the strange opinion expressed by Juvenal (Sat. xiv. 97) and others that the Jews prayed to or worshipped the heavens. The name ‘Proseuche’ is frequently found in inscriptions. See E. Schürer, GJV_3 ii. [1898] 443, note 53, and 447, notes 64 and 65. See also art._ Synagogue.
K. Kohler.