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ADMINISTRATOR The following is an excerpt from the book Ancient Hebrew Dictionary. While the priests of Israel were the religious leaders of the community this is not the meaning of the word kohen. The Hebrew word for the priests of other nations is komer from a root meaning burn and may be in reference to the priests who burn children in the fires of Molech (2 Kings 23:10). The word kohen comes from a root meaning a base such as the base of a column. The koheniym (plural of kohen) are the structural support of the community. It is their responsibility to keep the community standing tall and straight, a sign of righteousness. ARMAMENT The following is an excerpt from the book Ancient Hebrew Dictionary. In Exodus 16:7 we read "and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD" (RSV). What is the "glory" of YHWH? First we must recognize that the "glory" is something that will be seen. Secondly, the word "glory" is an abstract word. If we look at how this word is paralleled with other words in poetical passages of the Bible, we can discover the original concrete meaning of this word. In Psalm 3:3 the kavod of Elohiym is paralleled with his shield and in Job 29:20, Job's kavod is paralleled with his bow. In Psalm 24:8 we read "who is this king of the kavod, YHWH is strong and mighty, YHWH is mighty in battle." The original concrete meaning of kavod is battle armaments. This meaning of "armament" fits with the literal meaning of the root of kavod, which is "heavy," as armaments are the heavy weapons and defenses of battle. In the Exodus 16:7, Israel will "see" the "armament" of YHWH, the one who has done battle for them with the Egyptians. ASSEMBLY The following is an excerpt from the Ancient Hebrew Research Center Website. The word Congregation appears 331 times in the King James Bible, but this word is used to translate three different Hebrew words; עדה (eydah, Strong's #5712), מועד (mo’eyd, Strong's #4150) and קהל (qahal, Strong's #6951). The word עדה (eydah) is the feminine form of the noun עד (eyd, Strong's #5707) meaning "testimony" or "witness." A עדה (eydah) is a group of persons or things that are gathered for carrying on a project or undertaking; a group with a common testimony. The word מועד (mo’eyd) is derived out of the verbal root יעד (Y.Ah.D, Strong's #5707) meaning to "appoint," in the sense of arranging, fixing or setting in place. This root is also derived out of the noun עד (eyd, Strong's #5707) meaning "testimony" or "witness." The word מועד (mo’eyd) is an appointed place or time. The word קהל (qahal) is a large group gathered to one place, as a gathering of the flock of sheep to the shepherd. This noun is derived from the verbal root קהל (Q.H.L, Strong's #6950) meaning to gather or round-up a flock or group of people. The following is an excerpt from the book His Name is One. The parent root קל (qal) is formed by combining the picture of the sun at the horizon, meaning draw in, with the picture of a shepherd staff. The combined meaning is "to draw to the shepherd staff". The child root קול (qol) is translated as "voice" and it is the voice of the shepherd that calls the flock to be drawn toward his staff (the sign of his authority). Another child root derived from this parent root is קהל (qahal) meaning, "assemble". This word is used throughout the Bible for the "assembly" or "congregation" of Israel, the sheep who hear the voice of their shepherd Yahweh. "These words Yahweh spoke to all your assembly (lhq - a gathering flock) with a great voice (lwq - voice of the shepherd) from in the midst of the fiery cloud on the mountain" Deuteronomy 5.22). In this passage we can clearly see the imagery of the shepherd calling his sheep. When the voice of Yahweh (the shepherd) came from the mountain, all of Israel (the sheep) gathered in front of the mountain (the staff) to hear his words.