Congregation: (Heb. kahal), the Hebrew people collectively as a holy community
(Numbers 15:15) Every circumcised Hebrew from twenty years old and upward
was a member of the congregation. Strangers resident in the land, if
circumcised, were, with certain exceptions
(Exodus 12:19; Numbers 9:14; Deuteronomy 23:1-3)
admitted to the privileges of citizenship, and spoken of as members
of the congregation
(Exodus 12:19; Numbers 9:14; 15:15) The congregation were
summonded together by the sound of two silver trumpets, and they met
at the door of the tabernacle
(Numbers 10:3) These assemblies were convened
for the purpose of engaging in solemn religious services
(Exodus 12:27)
(Numbers 25:6; Joel 2:15) or of receiving new commandments
(Exodus 19:7,8)
The elders, who were summonded by the sound of one trumpet
(Numbers 10:4)
represented on various occasions the whole congregation
(Exodus 3:16)
(Exodus 12:21; 17:5; 24:1) After the conquest of Canaan, the people were
assembled only on occasions of the highest national importance
(Judges 1:20; 2 Chronicles 30:5; 34:29; 1 Samuel 10:17; 2 Samuel 5:1-5; 1 Kings 12:20; 2 Kings 11:19)
(2 Kings 21:24; 23:30) In subsequent times the congregation was represented
by the Sanhedrim; and the name synagogue, applied in the Septuagint
version exclusively to the congregation, came to be used to denote
the places of worship established by the Jews.
In (Acts 13:43) where alone it occurs in the New Testament, it is
the same word as that rendered "synagogue" (q.v.) in
(Acts 13:42)
and is so rendered in
(Acts 13:43) in R.V.
