Ein Gedi Synagogue: “Peace upon Israel,” 450 CE
Ein Gedi Synagogue
The floor of the western aisle, through which one entered the prayer hall, included five inscriptions. These include an Aramaic inscription mentioning the local community as well as private donors who contributed toward the construction and maintenance of the synagogue. One inscription also includes a warning and a curse-
Warnings to those who commit sins causing dissention in the community, passing malicious information to the gentiles, or revealing the secrets of the town.
The one whose eyes roam over the entire earth and sees what is concealed will uproot this person and his seed from under the sun and all the people will say, Amen. Selah.
Two inscriptions in Hebrew relate to Jewish tradition. One notes the names of the thirteen fathers of the world according to 1 Chronicles 1-1-4- Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mehalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Ham and Japeth.
Another lists the names of the twelve signs of the zodiac and the twelve months of the Hebrew calendar; the three patriarchs- Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and the names of the three companions of Daniel- Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; and a blessing- “Peace upon Israel.”
Geva, Hillel, Archeological Sites in Israel, No. 4. Jerusalem- Israel Information Center, 1999.
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