The congregation, community, assembly — the whole gathered people of Israel (Numbers 1:2), from the root ya'ad, 'to appoint, to meet by appointment' (the same family as mo'ed, the 'appointed time' and the 'tent of MEETING'). Not a random crowd but the summoned assembly; its chieftains are literally 'the CALLED ones of the eda' (1:16). KJV 'congregation,' NWT 'assembly.' → first discussed at Num 1:2