Qrîê Ha-Edhah

QRIP HA-cEDHAH This phrase occurs twice in the Old Testament: Num. 1:16 and 26:9; and in the parallel form qrP6 m6cedh also in Num. 16:2. In 1:16 and 16:2 the individuals so described are further identified as nst magtoth (or cedhah), but not in 26:9, though the reference is to Dathan and Abiram mentioned in 16:2. A.V. renders "renowned of the congregation" or "famous in the congregation." R.V. has altered this into "called of the congregation" and "called to the assembly," the latter clearly an attempt to find a solution of the difficult phrase in the circumstances of the revolt of Dathan and Abiram. This same idea in various wordings is almost uniform in the translations. J.V. has "select men"; Moffatt "men selected," "gathered to oppose," and "selected men"; American Translation "select men" and "picked men." It is as ancient as the LXX, with its 1rLdKXrot and oVbVKXfroL. Nor does Jerome disagree, though, as often, his rendering approaches paraphrase. It is significant, however, that he does not consent to the evaluation of m65edh as "assembly." The entire description he renders: "viri procures synagogae, et qui tempore concilii per nomina vocabuntur" (16:2). But now what is the validity of this consensus of translation? Certainly the rendering of R.V. in 1:16 is superficial; these men were not "called of the congregation" in the usual sense of this phrase: The congregation had nothing to do with their choice. The interpretation "called from the congregation" is possible, though improbable; for they were not of the rank and file of the congregation, though indeed cedhah may well have included the officials also. However, they were not "called" at all but designated by their rank; and, as well, in the two statements of their nomination the verb QARAD is avoided. In verse 4 they are mentioned by the colorless phrase "they shall be with you" (w ittkem yihyu); in verse 5 they are to "stand" with Moses (yacamdhu); and in verse 17 they are referred to as the men who were "mentioned by name" (niqqbhu bshemoth). Now, while these considerations do not conclusively refute the traditional translation, they do serve to call it into question. But the situation is yet worse in regard to 16:2. The rendering of R.V., "called to the assembly," is dubious in the extreme. For, if by the "assembly" is meant the general crowd who gathered for this episode, we should rather expect either qahal or cedhah; and, as a matter of fact, the latter is so used in the sequel. If, on the other hand, the reference is to the rebels who sided with Dathan and Abiram, the answer is again that these two are clearly