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So according to the Rambam (I believe that it is only him, but would be more than interested in other people that also hold the same view), it is a mitzvah de'oraita daven every day (I believe its one thing each of shevach (praise), hoda'ah (thanks) and bakasha (petition)).

Today we fulfill this thorough the shmoneh esri, and the structure matches (first three, middle, last three) and all is good.

My question is threefold:

1 . What were communal prayer like in the times of beit hamikdash? It would seem from the gemara in Megilla 25b that there was some form of prayer going on whenever their ma'amad was up in the beit hamikdash, but rashi over there says that the town square does not get kedusha from this as it was not set/regular enough (seemingly, this was only done for two weeks a year and when there was no rain). It would seem odd if there was no daily communal prayer though as there was a beit keneset (though I suppose that could be for monday, thursday, shabbat, etc)

2 . Was there prayer two or three times a day? (I would expect that Ma'ariv is a probably not, as that was accepted as a minhag later I think)

3 . In a gemara in brachot (sorry I can't seem to find it), it would seem by juxtaposition that the korbanot and the daily prayers are related at least in their times. Did the three daily prayers come from the two daily korbanot and the trumat hadeshen?

Of course, if we don't hold like the Rambam, and say that prayer is rabbinic, do we say that there was any kind of prayer other than when an individual felt like it in the times of the beit hamikdash?

EDIT: here I am using times of the beit hamikdash to refer to beit reshon, as in the times of biet sheni there was the shemoneh esri already. It would be interesting to find out the "rollout" as it were of the shmoneh esri and start of reading the torah on monday tuesday and thursday and how they came about, but that is for another question I think.

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Before the anshei kneseth hagedolah created specific formulations for prayers and blessings, people recited it how they wanted. They would pray to G-d frequently, not just when it was their turn to ma'amdos. As for communal prayer, it may be they did not have set times to daven together. However, they did gather to hear the Torah on shabbath, and Ezra institutes that it also be read on Mondays and Thursdays.

Before the churban bayis rishon, people did not necessarily pray 3 times a day. This was instituted after the destruction to correspond to the 2 Tamid korbanos (shacharit and mincha), and to the burning of the leftovers from the korbanos (hekter chalavim v'evarim). Because this was not necessary if there were no leftovers, Ma'ariv does not have the same obligatory status as the other 2 prayers.

(Although the gemara also mentions an opinion that the tefilloth also correspond to the Avoth, they still correspond to the korbanoth.)

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  • 1. Does correspond mean come from, or they are related? 2. What is the source for frequent prayer? It would perhaps seem from the beginning of Shumel that people prayed in the mishcan area, and when they felt a great need (like shimshon at the end of his life, or his parents to have a kid) 3. Given that torah reading is not strictly davening, did they pray there, or just hear the torah being read (Why assume they did more)?
    – soandos
    Commented May 27, 2011 at 15:42
  • 1. Prayer was instituted as a substitute for the korbanos. 3. They did not necessarily pray, but they did gather together.
    – Ariel K
    Commented May 27, 2011 at 15:43
  • 1. How are they related, other than in time? The korban tamid does not have any of the three elements that the Rambam says are needed. There is no bakasha, no hodah, and no shevah... 3. But the question is about prayer...
    – soandos
    Commented May 27, 2011 at 15:45
  • The korabnos were the Avodah. Tefillah became its substitute, and had those aspects. However, the korbnanos had some of them also, since they had the levi'im sing shevach & hoda'ah while they were brought, and some required viduy.
    – Ariel K
    Commented May 27, 2011 at 15:48
  • Still not seeing petition. In addition, the singing was shevach, don't think hoda'ah and it was not a part of the avodah (to my knowledge, please provide a source if otherwise). Vidiu is not petition, or hoda'ah. Also, not seeing a source for frequent.
    – soandos
    Commented May 27, 2011 at 15:52

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