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Bible Encyclopedias
Convocation
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (מַקְרָא, mira', from קָרָא, kara', to call; comp. Numbers 10:2; Isaiah 1:13), applied invariably to meetings of a religious character, in contradistinction to congregation, in which political and legal matters were occasionally settled. (See GOVERNMENT). Hence it is connected with קֹדֶשׁ, holy, and is applied only to the Sabbath and the great annual festivals of the Jews (Exodus 12:16; Leviticus 23:2 sq.; Numbers 28:18 sq.; Numbers 29:1 sq.). In this sense, with one exception (Isaiah 1:13, "assembly"), the word is peculiar to the Pentateuch; but in Isaiah 4:5, it denotes the place of gathering ("assemblies"), and in Nehemiah 8:3, it signifies the public "reading" of the law in the synagogue service. The Sept. treats it as an adjective (κλητός, ἐπίκλητος; called); but there can be no doubt that the A. V. is correct in its rendering (Smith, s.v.). (See CONGREGATION). Like the Greek πανηγυρις or mass-meeting (Smith's Dict. of Class. Antiq. s.v. Panegyris), it signifies "a meeting or solemn assembly of a whole people for the purpose of worshipping at a common sanctuary." The phrase "holy convocation" is applied,
I. To the FEASTS:
1. To the Sabbaths, all of which were "holy convocations" (Leviticus 23:2-3).
2. To the Passover.
(a.) its first day (Exodus 12:16; Leviticus 23:7; Numbers 28:18);
(b.) its last day (Exodus 12:16; Leviticus 23:8; Numbers 28:25).
3. To the Pentecost (Leviticus 23:21).
4. To the Feast of Trumpets on the 1st of Tisri, the New Year's day of the civil year (Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 29:1).
5. To the Feast of Weeks or First-fruits (Numbers 28:26).
6. To the Feast of Tabernacles:
(a.) its first day (Leviticus 23:35; Numbers 29:12);
(b.) its last day (Leviticus 23:36).
7. As introductory to the enumeration of these feasts (Leviticus 23:4), and as closing it (Leviticus 23:7).
II. To the one great FAST, the annual Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27; Numbers 29:7). To the deep solemnities of "the Holy Convocation," whether of joy or of sorrow ("afflicting the soul," as in the last passage), one great feature was common, marked by the command, "Ye shall do no servile work therein" (see all the passages); or more fully in Exodus 12:16, "No manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you." (Such as are curious about the Rabbinical opinions of what might be done, and what might not, on these occasions, may find them in Buxtorf's Synagoga Judaica, especially ch. 19; the joyous celebrations are described in ch. 21, and the expiatory in ch. 25, 26; see also Ugolini Thesaur. 4:988-1052). With this may be compared Strabo's statement (bk. 10), "This is a common practice both of Greeks and barbarians, to perform their sacred services with a festive cessation of labor." (See SABBATH).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Convocation'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/c/convocation.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
