solemn assembly

Gatherings of the people, in a state of ritual purity, for sacred, religious purposes. These purposes include set festivals, such as the seventh day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread (Deut 16:8) or the eighth day of the Festival of Booths (Lev 23:36; Num 29:35; 2Chr 7:9; Neh 8:18). They might also include special assemblies such as that called by Jehu for Baal (2Kgs 10:20) or for times of emergency (Joel 1:14; Joel 2:15-16). Such assemblies were sometimes criticized by prophets when the people acted unjustly in their everyday lives (Isa 1:13; Amos 5:21).