Jastrow: קָהָל

קָהָל m. (b. h.; preced.) gathering, congregation. Y. Hor. I, 46ᵃ bot. (ref. to Num. XV, 24, העדה) כל השבטים קרויין ק׳ all tribes together are called ḳahal; כל שבט … ק׳ every tribe for itself is called ḳ.; Bab. Hor. 3ᵃ כגון … רובו של ק׳ וכ׳ when six tribes have sinned, and they form the majority of the congregation (the entire people) &c. Ib. הני הוא דאיקרו ק׳ only they (the entire people) are called ḳ.—Kidd. 73ᵃ קְהַל ודאי a community of Israelites of undoubted legitimacy; קְ׳ ספק of doubtful legitimacy; Y. Yeb. VIII, 9ᵇ bot. קָ׳ ברור; קְ׳ ספק. Ib. [read:] ארבע קְהִילּוֹת אינון קְ׳ יי׳ קְ׳ כהנים וכ׳ four communities are meant by ‘the congregation of the Lord’ (Deut. XXIII, 2; 3; 4; 9): the community of priests, of Levites, of Israelites, and of proselytes. Mish. ib. VIII, 2 ואינן … אלא מלבא בק׳ and they are forbidden only to enter the congregation (to intermarry with Israelites); a. fr.—Pl., v. קְהִלָּה