Assembly

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Besides the use of this word for any collecting together, “as the assembly of the wicked,” it has a special reference in the Old Testament to the children of Israel as “the assembly,” whether they were collected together or not. Several Hebrew words are used, some implying “an appointed meeting,” others a “calling together.” “The whole assembly of the congregation” were to eat the passover (Ex. 12:66And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. (Exodus 12:6)), though each family ate it in its own house. They accused Moses of having brought them into the wilderness to kill the “whole assembly with hunger,” (Ex. 16:33And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. (Exodus 16:3)); so in many places. When they were especially called together to the feasts it is often called a SOLEMN ASSEMBLY, as in Leviticus 23:3636Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. (Leviticus 23:36); Numbers 29:3535On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein: (Numbers 29:35); Deuteronomy 16:88Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the Lord thy God: thou shalt do no work therein. (Deuteronomy 16:8); 2 Kings 10:2020And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it. (2 Kings 10:20); 2 Chronicles 7:99And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. (2 Chronicles 7:9); Nehemiah 8:1818Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner. (Nehemiah 8:18).
In the New Testament the word is also used for any gathering of people, as at the tumult in Ephesus (Acts 19:32,39,4132Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. (Acts 19:32)
39But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. (Acts 19:39)
41And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly. (Acts 19:41)). In James 2:2 The word “assembly” is really the synagogue, or place of meeting. In Hebrews 12:2323To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (Hebrews 12:23) the words “GENERAL ASSEMBLY” should be joined to Hebrews 12:2222But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (Hebrews 12:22), reading “and to the innumerable company of angels, the general assembly:” the word “and” dividing the subjects. The Greek word used in Acts 19:3232Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. (Acts 19:32) is ἑκκλησἰα, and this often occurs in the New Testament where it is translated “church.” It signifies “called out,” and the church is a people called out by God to Himself from the mass of mankind. The church may more accurately be designated by the word “assembly.” See CHURCH.