To convoke or assemble a community for a specific purpose — war, worship, covenant-making, or judgment. The noun qahal (congregation/assembly) is the OT background for the NT word ekklesia (church).
Israel's assembly before God at Sinai and in the temple courts was qahal. The Greek translators rendered it as ekklesia, which became the NT word for 'church' — the called-out assembly.
The OT qahal is the direct ancestor of the NT ekklesia (church). Both describe the people of God formally assembled before him — Israel at Sinai is the type; the church is the antitype.