Mizpah

or MIZPEH, a city of the tribe of Benjamin, situated in a plain, about eighteen miles west of Jerusalem. Here Samuel dwelt; and here he called Israel together, to observe a solemn fast for their sins, and to supplicate God for his assistance against the Philistines; after which they sallied out on their enemies, already discomfited by the thunders of heaven, and gave them a total defeat, 1 Samuel 7. Here, also, Saul was anointed king, 1Sa 10:17-25. It appears that between this and the time of Asa, king of Judah, Mizpeh had suffered probably in some of the intervening wars, as we are told that Asa built it with the stones and timber of Ramah, 1Ki 15:22. There was another Mizpeh in Gilead; on the spot where Jacob set up the pillar or heap of stones, to commemorate the covenant there made between him and Laban, Gen 31:49. (See Gilead.) There was also a third Mizpeh, in the land of Moab, where David placed his father and mother, while he remained in his retreat at Adullam, 1Sa 22:3. It is to be observed, that Mizpeh implies a beacon or watch tower, a pillar or heap of commemoration; and at all the places bearing this name, it is probable that a single pillar, or a rude pile, was erected as the witness and the record of some particular event. These, subsequently, became altars and places of convocation on public occasions, religious and civil.

Miz´pah. The word signifies a watch-tower, and is the name of several towns and places in lofty situations, whether furnished with a watch-tower or not.

Mizpah, 1

A town or city in Gilead (Jdg 10:17; Jdg 11:11; Jdg 11:34; Hos 5:1). The place originated in the heap of stones set up by Laban, and to which he gave his name (Gen 31:49). Some confound this with the Mizpeh of Gilead in Jdg 11:29; but it is better to distinguish them [MIZPEH OF GILEAD, 3].

Mizpah, 2

A city of Benjamin, where the people had used to convene (Jos 18:26; Jdg 20:1; Jdg 20:3; Jdg 21:1; 1Sa 7:5-16; 1Sa 10:17, sq.). It was afterwards fortified by Asa, to protect the borders against the kingdom of Israel (1Ki 15:22; 2Ch 16:6). In later times it became the residence of the governor under the Chaldeans (Jer 40:6, sq.; comp. Neh 3:7; Neh 3:15; Neh 3:19). Its position is nowhere mentioned in Scripture or by Josephus; but it could not have been far from Ramah, since King Asa fortified it with materials taken from that place; and that it was situated on an elevated spot is clear from its name. Neby Samwil, a poor village seated upon the summit of an elevated ridge about four and a half miles N.N.W. from Jerusalem, is supposed to correspond with the position of Mizpah.

Miz’pah. Miz’pah and Miz’peh (a watch-tower). The name of several places in Palestine.

1. The earliest of all, in order of the narrative, is the heap of stones, piled up by Jacob and Laban, Gen 31:48, on Mount Gilead, Gen 31:25, to serve both as a witness to the covenant then entered into, and as a landmark of the boundary between them. Gen 31:52.

On this natural watch-tower, did the children of Israel assemble for the choice of a leader, to resist the children of Ammon. Jdg 10:17. There, the fatal meeting took place between Jephthah and his daughter, on his return from the war. Jdg 11:34.

It seems most probable that the "Mizpeh-gilead" which is mentioned here, and here only, is the same as the "ham-Mizpah." of the other parts of the narrative; and both are probably identical with the Ramath-mizpeh and Ramoth-gilead, so famous in the later history.

2. A second Mizpeh, on the east of Jordan, was the Mizpeh-moab, where the king of that nation was living, when David committed his parents to his care. 1Sa 22:3.

3. A third was "the land of Mizpeh," or more accurately "of Mizpah," the residence of the Hivites, who joined the northern confederacy, against Israel, headed by Jabin, king of Hazor. Jos 11:3. No other mention is found of this district in the Bible, unless it be identical with Mizpah, 4.

4. The valley of Mizpeh, to which the discomfited hosts, of the same confederacy were chased by Joshua, Jos 11:8, perhaps identical with the great country of Coele-Syria.

5. Mizpeh, a city of Judah, Jos 15:38, in the district of the Shefelah, or maritime lowland.

6. Mizpeh, in Joshua and Samuel; elsewhere Mizpah, a "city" of Benjamin, not far from Jerusalem. Jos 18:26; 1Ki 15:22; 2Ch 16:6; Neh 3:7.

It was one of the places fortified by Asa, against the incursions of the kings of northern Israel, 1Ki 15:22; 2Ch 16:6; Jer 41:10, and after the destruction of Jerusalem , it became the residence of the superintendent, appointed by the king of Babylon, Jer 40:7; etc., and the scene of his murder, and of the romantic incidents connected , with the name of Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah.

It was one of the three holy cities, which Samuel visited in turn as judge of the people, 1Sa 7:6; 1Sa 7:16, the other two being Bethel and Gilgal. With the conquest of Jerusalem, and the establishment there of the ark, the sanctity of Mizpah, or at least its reputation, seems to have declined.

From Mizpah, the city or the temple was visible. These conditions are satisfied by the position of Scopus, the broad ridge which forms the continuation, of the Mount of Olives to the north and cast, from which the traveller gains, like Titus, his first view, and takes his last farewell, of the domes, walls and towers of the Holy City.

Hebrew "the Mizpah," generally a "watchtower". Mizpeh (masculine) expresses rather the town; Mizpah (feminine) the district (Jos 11:8; Jos 11:8).

1. In Gilead E. of Jordan. The name Laban gave to Galeed, the "heap of witness," the memorial of his covenant with Jacob, and the boundary landmark between them (Gen 31:48-49; Gen 31:52), "for he said, Jehovah watch between me and thee when we are absent one from another." (See GALEED.) Herein he adopts Jacoh’s language (Hebrew) and religion (Jehovah’s worship). In Hos 5:1, "ye house of the king, ye have been a snare on Mizpah and a net spread upon Tabor," the sense is, Ye ought to have been "watchers" guarding Israel from evil, but ye have been as hunters entrapping them into it. Mizpah in the E. and Tabor in the W. include the high places of the whole kingdom in which the rulers set up idol altars. Here Israel assembled to choose a leader in its "misery" when Ammon, having oppressed eastern Palestine, was threatening also to attack Judah and Ephraim W. of Jordan.

Jephthah passed Mizpah on his way from Gilead to fight Ammon (Jdg 10:16-17; Jdg 11:29). Here on the hallowed ground he "uttered all his words before Jehovah in the Mizpah." Thenceforth his home was there; and at Mizpah the sad meeting with his daughter took place (Jdg 11:34). Seemingly identical with Ramoth Gilead, or Ramath ("high place") Mizpeh (Jos 13:26); now es Salt, or else Mizpah is the Mount Jebel Osha, to the N.W. Here too Israel met, as being the ancient sanctuary, to determine what was to be done after the outrage perpetrated at Gibeah (Jdg 20:1; Jdg 20:3; Jdg 21:1; Jdg 21:5; Jdg 21:8).

2. Mizpeh Moab, where the Moabite king lived when David entrusted his parents to him (1Sa 22:3). Possibly Kir Moab, now Kerak, S.E. of the Dead Sea. More probably a mountain fastness on the high land bounding the Arboth Moab on the E. of the Dead Sea; on the mountains Abarim or Pisgah (Deu 34:1), which David could easily reach from Bethlehem by crossing the Jordan near its entrance into the Dead Sea. Mount Pisgah was the most commanding eminence in Moab, and contained the sanctuary Nebo, of which part was called Zophim (derived from the same root as Mizpeh).

3. The land of Mizpah, the abode of the Hivites, "under Hermon," who joined Jabin against Joshua (Jos 11:8). To "the valley of Mizpah eastward" Joshua chased Jabin’s conquered hosts (Jos 11:8). The valley is probably part of the great hollow, Coelo-Syria, now Buka’a (Amo 1:5, margin), containing Baalbek; near which on the N. is the hill Haush tell Safiyeh.

4. Mizpah of Benjamin (Jos 18:26). Fortified by Asa against the invasions of northern Israel (1Ki 15:22). The residence and scene of Gedaliah’s murder (Jer 40:7-10; Jer 41:1-2), At Mizpah Israel repented at Samuel’s call (1Sa 7:5-6), and "drew water and poured it out before the Lord," pleading symbolically their misery, powerlessness, and prostration by the Philistines, that so God might strengthen them. An act of deepest humiliation and confession of misery, the result of sin. (Psa 22:14; Psa 58:7; 2Sa 14:14; Isa 40:29-30; 2Co 12:9-10; Lam 2:19, "pour out thine heart like water before the face of Jehovah.") Here Samuel appointed Saul king (1Ki 10:17-25). Mizpah with Bethel and Gilgal were the three cities which Samuel as judge visited on circuit.

Men of Mizpah on the return from Babylon helped in rebuilding the wall; "the ruler of the district of Mizpah" and "the ruler of Mizpah" took part in it (Neh 3:7; Neh 3:15; Neh 3:19). Judas Maccabeus (1Ma 3:44) assembled the Jews at Maspha, as being "aforetime a place of prayer over against (implying Mizpah was in full sight of) Jerusalem." Josephus (Ant. 11:8, section 5; B. J. v. 2-3; 2:19, section 4; 5:2-3) mentions Sapha (a corruption of Maspha, Mizpah) as the place of Alexander’s meeting Jaddua the high priest; and elsewhere calls it Scopus, i.e. the look-out place, from whence on the broad ridge (the continuation of Olivet), seven stadia N. of the city, one gains the first view of Jerusalem. The Septuagint twice renders Mizpah skopia. Nebi Samwil, on the W. bound of Benjamin toward the Philistines, with whom Israel was about to war (1Sa 7:5-6), Robinson identifies with Mizpah.

But it is five miles off, though in view of the Sakhrah of the temple and the Church of the Sepulchre; and this is at variance with 1 Maccabees, "over against Jerusalem." Moreover it is out of the way of the pilgrims from Samaria to Jerusalem, murdered by Ishmael; whereas Scopus is in the direct road (Jer 41:7). Sennacherib at Nob first caught the full view of "the house of Zion and hill of Jerusalem"; Nob therefore is probably Mizpah. Condor (Palestine Exploration Quarterly Statement, January, 1875) identifies Nob with Nebi Samwil, the Arabs mistaking Nob "high place" for Nebi "prophet." Nebi Samwil is so near Gibeon that it must have been the high place visited by Solomon; the view from it is splendid. Traces of the outer court of the tabernacle are yet discoverable, and a curious rock cut approach. (but, see NOB.)

Mizpah (mĭs’pah) and Mizpeh (miz’peh), watch-tower. The name of several places in Palestine. 1. On Mount Gilead, also called Mizpeh of Gilead, Jdg 11:29, and elsewhere, probably Ramoth-mizpeh, Jos 13:26, and Ramoth-gilead, 1Ki 4:13, and elsewhere, the place where Laban and Jacob set up a heap of stones as a witness and landmark between them. Gen 31:23; Gen 31:25; Gen 31:48; Gen 31:52. Here, also, the Israelites assembled to fight against the Ammonites, Jdg 10:17; and here Jephthah was met by his daughter. Jdg 11:29. Some suppose that this was the place also where the tribes assembled to avenge the great sin committed in Benjamin, Jdg 20:1; Jdg 20:3; Jdg 21:1; Jdg 21:5; Jdg 21:8; but this is more usually applied to the Mizpah in Benjamin. See No. 6. This Mizpah has been identified, with great probability, with Kulat er Rubad on the Wady ʾAjlûn, about ten miles east of the Jordan. The summit commands a wide view, and is in harmony with the name Mizpeh, or "watch-tower." 2. Mizpeh of Moab, where the king of that nation was living when David committed his parents to his care, 1Sa 22:3; possibly now Kerak. 3. The land of Mizpeh, in the north of Palestine, the residence of the Hivites, Jos 11:3; possibly identical with—4. The valley of Mizpeh, Jos 11:3; Jos 11:8, whither the confederate hosts were pursued by Joshua; perhaps the modern Bukaʾa, the great country of Cœle-Syria, between Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon. 5. A city in Judah, Jos 15:38; possibly identical with the modern Tell es-Sâfiyeh. This others have identified with Misrephothmaim. Jos 11:8. 6. A city in Benjamin, Jos 18:26, where Israel assembled. 1Sa 7:5-7; 1Sa 7:11-12; 1Sa 7:16. Here Saul was elected king. 1Sa 10:17-21. Asa fortified Mizpah, 1Ki 15:22; 2Ch 16:6; it was where Gedaliah was assassinated, 2Ki 25:23; 2Ki 25:25; Jer 40:6-15; Jer 41:1-16; the men of Mizpah joined in rebuilding a par of the wall of Jerusalem. Neh 3:7; Neh 3:15; Neh 3:19. Probably identical with Neby Samwil, standing on a peak about four miles northwest of Jerusalem. Whether the Mizpah of Hos 5:1, was in Benjamin or in Gilead is uncertain.

(MIZPEH; ):

By: Joseph Jacobs, M. Seligsohn

Name of several places in Palestine. It is derived from (= "to look"), on account of which it is translated in certain instances by the Septuagint σκοπιά and ὅρασις, and by the Targumim (Gen. xxxi. 49). Except in Hosea v. 1, "Mizpah" always occurs with the definite article prefixed; "Mizpeh" occurs three times with the article—(1) in Josh. xv. 38, where it designates a town of Judah; (2) in Josh. xviii. 26, where it is applied to a town of Benjamin; and (3) in II Chron. xx. 24, where it probably signifies a watch-tower in the wilderness—and twice in the construct state; namely, in Judges xi. 29 ("Mizpeh of Gilead") and in I Sam. xxii. 3 ("Mizpeh of Moab").

Mizpah is first mentioned in the Bible in connection with the meeting of Jacob and Laban on Mount Gilead, where the heap of stones which they erected as a witness, and which was called by Jacob "Galeed" and by Laban "Jegar-sahadutha," was called "Mizpah" also, for the stated reason, "the Lord watch between me and thee" (Gen. l.c.). This Mizpah is most probably identical with the Mizpeh of Gilead (see above), which, according to Schwarz ("Das Heilige Land," pp. 17, 183), is the same as Ramath-mizpeh of Gad (Josh. xiii. 26), and which he identifies with the modern village of Al-Ṣuf in the eastern mountain-range of Gilead.

Mizpah in Palestine.

The most important of the places bearing the name of "Mizpah" was that in Palestine, which on several occasions was the seat of assemblies at which the Israelites discussed their affairs, e.g., in the time of Jephthah (Judges xi. 11), and during the war of Israel with Benjamin (ib. xx. 1). Samuel, also, summoned Israel to Mizpah (I Sam. vii. 5-6, 11, 16); and, finally, in the time of the Maccabees, Mizpah (Μασσηφά) appears again as a place of solemn assembly (I Macc. iii. 46). From the foregoing it would appear that at Mizpah a shrine for the worship of Yhwh existed; but there is a diversity of opinion as to the location of the place. There is no doubt that, since it is mentioned with Geba of Benjamin, the Mizpah which Asa fortified against the attacks of the King of Israel (I Kings xv. 22; II Chron. xvi. 6) was the Mizpah of Benjamin, which was called "Mizpeh" in Josh. xviii. 26 (see above), and which was over against Jerusalem. It was also this Mizpah which became the seat of the governor Gedaliah after the destruction of the Temple (II Kings xxv. 23; Jer. xl. 6 et seq., xli. 1); for when Ishmael went forth from Mizpah he met certain people journeying from Shiloh to Jerusalem. W. F. Birch concludes that the other Mizpahs indicated as places of assembly are also identical with the same town of Benjamin ("Pal. Explor. Fund," 1881, pp. 91 et seq.; 1882, pp. 260 et seq.). Finally may be mentioned the opinion of Conder ("Hand-book to Bible," p. 277, London, 1879), who identifies Mizpah with Nob. The Mizpeh of Judah (Josh. xv. 38; see above) is in the Shefelah or lowlands, mentioned as lying between Dilean and Jokthe-el, neither of which places has been identified. Schwarz(l.c. p. 74) identifies Mizpeh with Tel al-Safiyah, the Alba Specula of the Middle Ages (comp. Robinson, "Researches," ii. 363 et seq.).

Land of Mizpah.

There was also a whole tract of land called "the land of Mizpah" ("ereẓ ha-Miẓpah") or "the valley of Mizpeh" ("biḳ'at Miẓpeh"), mentioned in connection with the battle between Joshua and Jabin, King of Hazor, which took place at the waters of Meron (Josh. xi. 3, 8). The topography indicated, "under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh" and "unto great Zidon and unto Misrephoth-maim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward," taken in connection with Josh. xi. 17, suggests that the land or valley of Mizpah is to be identified with the valley of the Lebanon or the Cœle-Syria of the Greek writers. The Mizpeh of Moab (see above) is mentioned only once (I Sam. xxii. 3), as the residence of the King of Moab, to whose care David consigned his parents.

The name Mizpah came from a common Hebrew word meaning ‘watchtower’ or ‘watchpost’, and was given to a number of places referred to in the Bible. The earliest mention is to a place that features in the story of Jacob where he and Laban made an agreement not to be treacherous to each other in future. They called the place Mizpah, since God was witness to their agreement, the one who ‘watched’ between them (Gen 31:44-50).

In relation to the history of the nation Israel, the most important town that had the name Mizpah was in the central hill country of Palestine. It was one of four administrative and religious centres that Samuel visited on his annual circuit (1Sa 7:5-12; 1Sa 7:16). The town was located in the tribal area of Benjamin and had previously featured in one of the most disastrous events in Benjamin’s early history (Jdg 20:1-7; Jdg 21:1-8). Israel’s first king, Saul, who was from the tribe of Benjamin, was publicly declared king in Mizpah (1Sa 10:17-24; for map see BENJAMIN).

During the period of the divided kingdom, Mizpah became an important defence outpost on Judah’s northern border with Israel (1Ki 15:22). After the destruction of Jerusalem it became the centre from which Gedaliah, the governor appointed by Babylon, administered the scattered remains of the former kingdom (2Ki 25:23; 2Ki 25:25; Jer 40:6-16; Jeremiah 41).

Other places in Palestine named Mizpah were near Mount Hermon in the far north (Jos 11:3), in Gilead east of Jordan (Jdg 10:17; Jdg 11:11; Jdg 11:29; Jdg 11:34), and in the low foothills west of the central highlands (Jos 15:38). There was also a Mizpah in Moab south-east of the Dead Sea (1Sa 22:3).