Convocation

a meeting of a religious character as distinguished from congregation, which was more general, dealing with political and legal matters. Hence it is called an "holy convocation." Such convocations were the Sabbaths ( Leviticus 23:2 Leviticus 23:3 ), the Passover ( Exodus 12:16 ; Leviticus 23:7 Leviticus 23:8 ; Numbers 28:25 ), Pentecost ( Leviticus 23:21 ), the feast of Trumpets ( Leviticus 23:24 ; Numbers 29:1 ), the feast of Weeks ( Numbers 28:26 ), and the feast of Tabernacles ( Leviticus 23:35 Leviticus 23:36 ). The great fast, the annual day of atonement, was "the holy convocation" ( Leviticus 23:27 ; Numbers 29:7 ).

A calling together; assembly.

Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in the first day there shall be an holy CONVOCATION, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy CONVOCATION to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. ( Exodus 12:15-16 )

This term (with one exception)-- ( Isaiah 1:13 ) is applied invariably to meetings of a religious character, in contradistinction to congregation.

CONVOCATION

kon-vo-ka'-shun:

A rendering for miqra' chiefly in the frequent "Holy Convocation"; but the word is sometimes used alone, e.g. Numbers 10:2; Isaiah 1:13; 4:5. On a holy convocation no work could be done. The phrase differs from "solemn assembly," which in the Pentateuch is only applied to the concluding festivals at the end of Passover and Tabernacles, while "Holy Convocation" is used of the Sabbath and all the great holy days of the Mosaic legislation.