Bible Encyclopedias
Dukan

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

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The "platform" upon which (1) the Temple priests stood to pronounce the benediction (Mid. 2:6), (2) the Levites stood during their singing (hence, also, name for the Levitical service: compare Meg. 3a), and (3) the teacher or assistant teacher sat while instructing the children (B. B. 21a). The name "dukan," however, in the course of time, came to be applied chiefly to the priestly blessing. The call to the priest to recite the blessing was, "Go up to the dukan" (Shab. 118b; compare Targ. Yer. to Numbers 6:23); hence "dukenen" or "duchenen." See BLESSING, PRIESTLY.