Assemble Congregation הָעֵדָ֖ה הַקְהֵ֑ל

We are moving into chapter eight of Leviticus with our word for today. הָעֵדָ֖ה הַקְהֵ֑ל assemble the congregation. It is used 5 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. We’ll start with our chapter since it is also the first time it is used in the Bible. Leviticus 8:3-4 And הָעֵדָ֖ה הַקְהֵ֑ל assemble all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting.” And Moses did as the Lord commanded him, וַתִּקָּהֵל֙ הָֽעֵדָ֔ה [this is our phrase just with the words in reverse order] and the congregation was assembled at the entrance of the tent of meeting. This occasion for the gathering was to consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve in the tabernacle worship as priests. We see our phrase in the context of gathering together for war. Judges 20:1, 11-13 Then all the people of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, וַתִּקָּהֵ֨ל הָעֵדָ֜ה [this is our phrase just with the words in reverse order] and the congregation assembled as one man to the Lord at Mizpah … So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one man. And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What evil is this that has taken place among you? Now therefore give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel.” We also find our phrase used when God called the people to take a census. Numbers 1:17-19 Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named, and on the first day of the second month, הָעֵדָ֜ה הִקְהִ֗ילוּ they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, as the Lord commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai. Our last use of our phrase we find it not initiated by God nor for a good purpose like our other uses were. It is when the people complain for lack of water. Numbers 20:1-8 And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there. Now there was no water for the congregation. And לָעֵדָ֑ה וַיִּקָּ֣הֲל֔וּ they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.” Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” This reminds me of what happened in the Corinthian church when people got together. 1 Corinthians 11:17-22 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not. I’ll close with this Psalm that encourages the worship of God as the reason to gather using the word congregation from our phrase. Psalm 111:1 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the וְעֵדָֽה congregation.