church in scripture Old Testament Qahal Kahal

‘church’ in scripture: Old Testament Qahal / Kahal: to gather; to assemble Kahal YHWH: chosen and gathered by God ‘Edah’ similar to Qahal People of God The Remnant

Find words/expressions for ‘church’ in the OT Gen 28: Dt 23: 2 -9 Ps 40: 9 -10 Exodus 35: 1 Ex 3: 7 -10; Ex 2: 23 -25 Is 37: 31 -32

Qahal / Kahal used of the religious assembly of the Examples: Gen 28: Dt 23 Israelites Qahal rab: ‘the great assembly’ i. e. the liturgical gathering : Ps 40: 9 -10

Exodus 35: 1 Moses assembled all the congregation of the Israelites and said to them: these are things that the Lord has commanded you to do…. . QAHAL used here in conjunction with EDAH Meaning virtually the same

Edah Mostly in the Pentateuch Mostly in Numbers – eg Num 1: 2; 14: 2 Less liturgical and more institutional perhaps?

People of YHWH My people / your people : Ex 3: 7 A covenant people in relationship with God The people of Israel The people of YHWH But: simple belonging does not ‘save’

Exodus 3: 7 Then the Lord said “I have observed the misery of my people… I have heard their cry. . indeed I know their sufferings…. .

The Remnant Prophetic literature A core from which the ‘new Israel’ will be built up Is 37: 31 -32 Subsequent sects saw themselves as this ‘faithful remnant’