Old Testament Words For Assemblies And Festivals

Biblical worship is corporate. The worshiper comes to God as a part of a larger community bound to the Lord in covenant and celebrating in festal assembly.

The Israelite worshiper is a member of the congregation ('edah, Num. 1:2; 27:13) or assembly (qahal, Num. 16:3; 20:4) of those called to serve Yahweh. These terms refer both to the general body of all Israelites and more specifically to the community assembled for worship ('edah, Ps. 1:5; '?dat 'El, "congregation of God," Ps. 82:1 nasb; '?dat Yisra'el, "congregation of Israel," 2 Chron. 5:6 nasb; qahal, 2 Chron. 30:25; Neh. 5:13; Pss. 22:25; 149:1; Joel 2:16; q?hal Yahveh, "assembly of Yahweh," Deut. 23:2; q?hal Yisra'el, "assembly of Israel," 1 Kings 8:14). For worship, the leaders assemble the people (hiqhil, "cause to assemble," Exod. 35:1; Num. 10:7; passive form niqhal, "be assembled," Lev. 8:3; Num. 20:8; 1 Kings 8:2) or gather them ('asaf, Ps. 50:5; Joel 2:16; passive form ne'?saf, "be gathered," 2 Chron. 30:3; Neh. 8:1; qabatz, "collect," 1 Kings 18:19; passive form niqbatz, Ps. 102:22).

The Pentateuch lays out a sequence of three major annual observances (Exod. 23:14–17; Lev. 23; Deut. 16:1–17), the "appointed times" (mo'?dim, Lev. 23:4; Num. 29:39; Isa. 1:14) of the Lord, when the people would gather at the sanctuary in a holy convocation or assembly (miqra' qodesh, Lev. 23:4). Beginning in the spring, the festivals include Passover (pesa?), the Feast of Unleavened Bread (?ag hammatztzot), the Feast of Weeks (?ag shavu'ot), the Feast of Harvest (?ag haqqatzir), the observance of Bread of the Firstfruits (le?em habbikkurim), the Day of Atonement or Covering (yom hakkippurim), the Feast of Shelters or Booths (?ag hassukkot), and the Feast of Ingathering (?ag ha'asif); some of these terms overlap one another and describe various aspects of the same major festival. Some scholars have suggested that the Day of Yahweh (yom Yahveh, Amos 5:18) may have been an annual festival of the enthronement and kingship of the Lord, perhaps coinciding with the observance of the new year. The remark in Nehemiah 8:17 suggests that the Feast of Shelters was not regularly celebrated during the period of the Israelite kingdoms. Thus Israelite worship centered in the pilgrimage feast (?ag, Deut. 16:14; Ezek. 46:11; Amos 8:10), as the worshipers would "keep festival" (?agag, Exod. 23:14; Ps. 42:4; Nah. 1:15). In connection with festivals, several terms are translated "observe" or "celebrate": to "keep" (shamar, Exod. 23:15; Deut. 16:1), to "commemorate" (hizkir, 1 Chron. 16:4), or to "do" ('asah, Deut. 16:1; 2 Kings 23:21–23) them. The expression "celebrate a festival" (la'?sot sim?ah, 2 Chron. 30:23; Neh. 8:12) literally means "make joy"; other terms for a festival are miqra' and '?tzarah (Deut. 16:8; Isa. 1:13), both meaning "assembly." The Sabbath (shabbat), though primarily a day of rest, was also a day of convocation when sacrifices were brought in addition to the daily offerings. Special sacrifices were offered on the first day of the month, called the "new [moon]" (?odesh, Num. 28:11; Isa. 1:13–14).