It is to be noted that order prevailed during gatherings of Jehovah’s people; such assemblies were well supported, and they were occasions of spiritual benefit, often times of great rejoicing.

In accord with the divine will, Moses and Aaron assembled all the older men of Israel in Egypt. The words of Jehovah were related, signs were performed, and the people believed. (Ex 4:27-31) Thereafter, as God ordered, the Israelites assembled at the base of Mount Sinai (Horeb), experienced a thrilling spectacle, and witnessed the giving of the Law.​—Ex 19:10-19; De 4:9, 10.

While the Israelites were in the wilderness, Jehovah instructed Moses to make two silver trumpets that were to be blown for convening the assembly and for breaking up the camp. If both were sounded, the whole assembly would keep their appointment with Moses; if only one was blown, the chieftains alone would thus be summoned. In the wilderness, the specified place of assembly was “the entrance of the tent of meeting.” (Nu 10:1-4; Ex 29:42) Later, it was Jehovah’s will that the Israelites assemble regularly at the temple in Jerusalem, gathering there for the three major annual festivals.​—Ex 34:23, 24; 2Ch 6:4-6.

Representative Assemblies. At times, the people of Israel were represented in gatherings by “chieftains of the assembly” (Ex 16:22; Nu 4:34; 31:13; 32:2; Jos 9:15, 18; 22:30), or “older men.” (Ex 12:21; 17:5; 24:1) When judicial matters required attention, a number of persons might assemble at the city gate. However, whether gathered there or elsewhere, they would not all vote on the case under consideration in a democratic fashion. Instead, theocratically, respected older men would weigh matters in the light of God’s law and then announce their decision. (De 16:18; 17:8-13) Similarly, the early Christian congregation was represented in such matters by those placed in positions of responsibility by the holy spirit. (Ac 20:28) In Israel, if the wrongdoing required the death sentence, the whole assembly might execute it.​—Le 24:14; Nu 15:32-36; De 21:18-21.

General Assemblies. Occasions of general assembly in Israel included religious festivals, solemn assemblies (2Ch 34:29, 30; Joe 2:15), or events of great national significance; runners sometimes summoned the populace. (1Sa 10:17-19; 2Ch 30:6, 13) The weekly Sabbath, a day of “complete rest, a holy convention” (Le 23:3), was a time to consider God’s Word, as in the later synagogues where ‘Moses was read aloud on every sabbath.’ (Ac 15:21) There was also the new moon observance (Nu 28:11-15), the day of the trumpet blast (Nu 29:1-6), the annual Atonement Day (Le 16), the Passover (commemorating Israel’s deliverance from Egypt; Ex 12:14), and, later, the Festival of Purim (commemorating the Jews’ deliverance from threatened annihilation in the Persian Empire; Es 9:20-24) as well as the Festival of Dedication (in remembrance of the temple’s rededication on Chislev 25, 165 B.C.E.; Joh 10:22, 23). Additionally, there were three annual “seasonal festivals of Jehovah”: the Festival of Unfermented Cakes, the Festival of Weeks (later called Pentecost), and the Festival of Booths (Le 23), respecting which festivals God decreed: “On three occasions in the year every male of yours will appear before the face of the true Lord, Jehovah.” (Ex 23:14-17) Recognizing the high spiritual value of these festivals, many men saw to it that their entire family attended. (Lu 2:41-45) Also, Moses expressly stated that every seven years, during the Festival of Booths, the men, women, children, and alien residents of Israel should be congregated in the place Jehovah chose “in order that they may listen and in order that they may learn, as they must fear Jehovah your God and take care to carry out all the words of this law.” (De 31:10-12) Hence, provision was made for the Israelites to assemble very frequently to consider Jehovah’s Word and purposes.​—See FESTIVAL.

Following the completion of the temple, Solomon convened a grand assembly in Jerusalem in connection with the dedication of that splendid religious structure. That assembly lasted for many days, and when the people were sent home they were “joyful and feeling good at heart over the goodness that Jehovah had performed toward David and toward Solomon and toward Israel his people.”​—2Ch 5:1–7:10.

Throngs assembling at the temple during the annual festivals experienced great delight and spiritual benefit, as at the Passover celebration of King Hezekiah’s time, when “there came to be great rejoicing in Jerusalem.” (2Ch 30:26) In Nehemiah’s day an assembly was called that proved to be an occasion of “very great rejoicing.” (Ne 8:17) To the people assembled in Jerusalem, Ezra read from the book of the Law of Moses, doing so before “all intelligent enough to listen,” and they were attentive. (Ne 8:2, 3) As a result of the instruction then imparted by Ezra and other Levites, all the people rejoiced, “for they had understood the words that had been made known to them.” (Ne 8:12) They thereafter commemorated the Festival of Booths, and on the eighth day “there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.”​—Ne 8:18; Le 23:33-36.

Synagogues as Assembly Places. While the Jews were exiles in Babylon, or shortly thereafter, synagogues, or buildings that were Jewish places of assembly, came into use. Eventually these were established in various places, large cities having more than one. Primarily, synagogues were schools where the Scriptures were read and taught. They were also places of prayer and for the giving of praise to God. It was customary for Jesus Christ and his disciples to go to them to instruct and encourage persons present. (Mt 4:23; Lu 4:16; Ac 13:14, 15; 17:1, 2; 18:4) Because the Scriptures were regularly read in the synagogues, James was able to say to the Christian governing body in Jerusalem: “From ancient times Moses has had in city after city those who preach him, because he is read aloud in the synagogues on every sabbath.” (Ac 15:21) The basic features of worship in the synagogue were carried over into Christian assembly places, where Scripture reading and exposition, encouragement, prayer, and the giving of praise were to be found.​—1Co 14:26-33, 40; Col 4:16; see SYNAGOGUE.

Importance of Assembling. The importance of taking full advantage of Jehovah’s provisions for assembling to gain spiritual benefits is emphasized in connection with the annual Passover observance. Any male who was clean and was not on a journey but who neglected to keep the Passover was to be cut off in death. (Nu 9:9-14) When King Hezekiah called inhabitants of Judah and Israel to Jerusalem for a Passover celebration, his message was, in part: “You sons of Israel, return to Jehovah . . . do not stiffen your neck as your forefathers did. Give place to Jehovah and come to his sanctuary that he has sanctified to time indefinite and serve Jehovah your God, that his burning anger may turn back from you. . . . Jehovah your God is gracious and merciful, and he will not turn away the face from you if you return to him.” (2Ch 30:6-9) Willful failure to attend would certainly have indicated a forsaking of God.