The synagogue emerged during the Second Temple period (520 BCE - 70 CE) as a community institution, likely evolving from practices during the Babylonian exile. Although its exact origins are unclear, references to synagogues appear as early as the 3rd century BCE, with the first known Judaean synagogue dating to the 1st century BCE[1][4].
During Jesus' lifetime, synagogues were prevalent in Judea and Galilee, serving as places for worship, teaching, and community gatherings, as indicated in various New Testament accounts[4][5].
Sources
[1] The Temple and the synagogue (Chapter 10) https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/cambridge-history-of-judaism/temple-and-the-synagogue/AFA83581E6314B2CB8AAA104802B7EC7
[2] The Synagogue - The Pluralism Project https://pluralism.org/the-synagogue
[3] Historic synagogues - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historic_synagogues
[4] Synagogue | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica https://www.britannica.com/topic/synagogue
[5] Synagogue - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synagogue