Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Nir cohen - Prof. Mat." <nir AT ccet.ufrn.br>]

 קהל קהילה may be associated with noise,  קול. either the voice summoning the
crowd, or the noisy crowd itself. unclear connection with קהלת (see קהלת
יעקב). some jewish interpreters see הקהיל as “summoned by trumpets”, see
sources below.

עדה may be associated with a timed meeting, מועד, נועד, יעד or live witness
.עד, עדות (as observed by chavoux). this might, INDEED, indicate, originally,
a smaller group, later "inflated" in BH; but even today עדה (ethnic/religeous
group) is less than a nation. see also the jewish view (rav hirsch) which is
consistent with these words but less so with isaac’s עוד/עדד. 

http://www.meirtv.co.il/site/content_idx.asp?idx=37966

according to some jewish views the difference עדה-קהל in BH is one of
organization and purpose, not of size: ideally, holy congregation vs a simple
mob. observe the recurring phrase הקהל את העדה, showing no difference in size.

on קהל the talmudic interpretation can be found in

http://www.aspaklaria.info/100_QOF/%D7%A7%D7%94%D7%9C.htm

nir cohen