Here, we have already observed, the Hebrew word translated `multitude' is melo,

`fullness'. We must therefore become acquainted with the usage and meaning of these

two words which are translated `multitude' before we can proceed with our study.

Qahal means `to call together', `to assemble', and the noun form is translated

`congregation', `assembly' and `company'. In seventy passages the Septuagint renders

the Hebrew qahal by ekklesia, and Stephen speaks of "the church in the wilderness"

(Acts 7: 38). In the three passages quoted from Genesis, "multitude" and `company' are

represented by `synagogue' in the Septuagint.  In Gen. 48: 19 melo which is

translated `multitude' is rendered in the Septuagint plethos, which in the N.T. is rendered

by the A.V. `multitude' 30 times, `company' once and `bundle' once. Unfortunately the

English word `multitude' has to stand for two very different conceptions. Plethos is from

the same root as pleroma and retains the idea of fullness or filling, but there is another

Greek word translated multitude, namely ochlos which means rather `a crowd' or `a

mob', the unruly nature of which is reflected in the verbal forms which mean `to vex' or

`to trouble' (Acts 5: 16; 15: 12; 17: 5; Heb. 12: 15).  While, therefore we are

compelled to use the English word `multitude' in these passages of Genesis, we must

dismiss the thought of a `mob' or of an unruly `crowd', and retain the idea of a properly

assembled gathering and a filling. Returning to the usage `the whole assembly', the word

is used of Israel as a nation, but in Genesis, before Israel as a nation existed, it is usually

prophetically, looking down the ages to the day when the seed of Abraham shall indeed

become `a filling up of the nations' (Rotherham). The four occurrences of qahal fall into

their place in the structure which can be seen set out in full in The Companion Bible. The

following extract will be sufficient to demonstrate this fitness here.

Gen. 27: 42 - 28: 5.

Departure. Jacob to Padan-aram.

"That thou mayest be a multitude of people."

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Gen. 35: 1-15.

Return. Jacob from Padan-aram.

"A nation and a company of nations."

*

*

*

*

*

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*

Gen. 48: 1-20.

Blessings of Joseph and his sons

"I will make thee a multitude of people."

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*

*

*

*

*

*

Gen. 49: 1-28.

Blessings of all his sons.

"Unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united."

It will be remembered that in the endeavour to obtain the birthright and the Abrahamic

blessing, Jacob, at the instigation of his mother who knew that `the elder shall serve the

younger' (Gen. 25: 23), attempted by fraud to make the prophecy sure, but failed. When

Jacob, as a consequence, was obliged to leave home, the coveted blessing for which both

he and his mother had schemed, was given to him freely: