### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **qâlahh**, represented by `{{H7035}}`, is a term used for the act to **assemble** or gather together. It appears only **1 time** in the Bible. The word is considered a variant form of the more common root `{{H6950}}` `qâhal`, which also means to assemble.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single use of `{{H7035}}` is found in [[2 Samuel 20:14]]. In this passage, during a pursuit through the land, a group called the Berites "were gathered together" to follow Sheba. The word appears alongside its primary root, `{{H6950}}` `qâhal`, to emphasize the act of assembly. The verse describes a mobilization that went through all the **tribes** (`{{H7626}}`) of Israel, highlighting the gathering of people for a specific purpose.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller picture of the context surrounding assembly and movement:
* `{{H6950}}` **qâhal**: The primary root from which **qâlahh** is derived, meaning to **convoke** or assemble. It is used when Solomon **assembled** the elders of Israel [[1 Kings 8:1]] and when the Israelites **gathered themselves together** at Shiloh [[Joshua 18:1]].
* `{{H7626}}` **shêbeṭ**: This word, meaning a clan or **tribe**, often appears in contexts of national gathering. While it can also mean a ruler's **sceptre** [[Genesis 49:10]] or a disciplinary **rod** [[Proverbs 13:24]], in [[2 Samuel 20:14]] it refers to the **tribes** of Israel.
* `{{H5674}}` **ʻâbar**: A verb meaning to **cross over** or pass through. It describes the movement that can precede a gathering, such as when the LORD **passed by** before Moses [[Exodus 34:6]] or the command to **go through** the midst of Jerusalem [[Ezekiel 9:4]].
* `{{H935}}` **bôwʼ**: A primitive root meaning to **go or come**. In the narrative of [[2 Samuel 20:14]], the people first gathered together and then **went** after their leader. This term is also used for God granting a request [[1 Chronicles 4:10]] or for a prophetic vision that will surely **come** [[Habakkuk 2:3]].
### Theological Significance
While `{{H7035}}` itself has a limited footprint, its root concept of "assembly," shared with `{{H6950}}`, carries significant weight. The act of gathering is a recurring theme with dual potential:
* **Covenantal Assembly:** People are frequently **gathered together** for sacred purposes, such as setting up the tabernacle at Shiloh [[Joshua 18:1]] or when Solomon **assembled** the elders to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem [[1 Kings 8:1]].
* **Assembly for Action:** Gatherings can also be for civil or military purposes. In Esther, the Jews were granted the right to **gather themselves together** to stand for their lives [[Esther 8:11]]. The lone use of `{{H7035}}` occurs in a similar context of mustering forces [[2 Samuel 20:14]].
* **Rebellious Assembly:** Scripture also shows that gathering can be for unrighteous purposes, as when the people **gathered themselves together** against Moses and Aaron [[Numbers 16:3]] or to demand the making of a golden calf [[Exodus 32:1]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7035}}` **qâlahh** is a specific and rare term for the act of assembly. As a variant of the foundational word `{{H6950}}` `qâhal`, its meaning is understood through its connection to the broader biblical theme of gathering. Its single appearance in scripture [[2 Samuel 20:14]] points to a muster of people for a common cause, illustrating how the concept of assembly is fundamental to national, military, and religious life in the Old Testament narrative.
TRV