Mizpeh Mizpah
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [1]
MIZPAH, MIZPEH. These words (from tsâphâh , to ‘look out,’ esp. as a watchman) mean ‘outlook-point’; and they are the names of several places and towns in Palestine, all presumably situated on elevated spots, and all probably ancient sacred places. The sites of several are, however, uncertain. As both names are significant, they nearly always in the Heb. have the article.
1. Mizpah in Genesis 31:49 , where Jacob and Laban made their compact together, and where the name is explained, by a popular etymology, from the words used by Laban, ‘J″ [Note: Jahweh.] watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another’ (and interpose, it is implied, if either attempts to take an advantage of the other). The name has not been preserved, and hence the site cannot be fixed, except conjecturally. Improbable sites have been suggested: to judge from the general line of Jacob’s route from Haran, the ‘Mizpah’ here referred to will have been some eminence on the N.E. of the Jebei Ajlun , some 40 miles S.E. of the Lake of Gennesaret (cf. Driver, Genesis , pp. 288, 301 f.).
2. The ‘land of Mizpah,’ at the foot of Hermon, in Joshua 11:5 , probably the same as the ‘cleft (or plain between mountains) of Mizpeh’ in v. 8. This ‘Mizpah,’ or ‘Mizpeh,’ has been identified with the Druse village Mutelle ’ (the ‘climbed up to’), on a hill 200 ft. high, at the S. end of the broad and fertile plain called the Merj ‘Ayûn’ (the ‘meadow of ‘Ayûn’), overlooking the basin of the Huleh sea, a little N. of Abil , and 8 m. W.N.W. of Bâniâs (Rob. iii. 372 f.). This, however, is thought by some to be not enough to the E. (notice ‘under Hermon’ v. 8, and ‘eastward’ v. 8); and Buhl ( GAP [Note: AP Geographie des alten Paiastina.] 240) conjectures that it may have been the height on which are now the ruins of the Saracenic castle Kal‘at es-Subçbç , 2 m. above Bânias, on the N.E. In the former case the ‘land’ of M. would be the Merj ‘Ayûn itself, between the rivers Litani and Hasbâni; in the latter it would be the plain stretching down from Bâniâs towards Lake Huleh.
3. Mizpeh in Joshua 15:38 , in the Shephçlah, or ‘lowland’ of Judah, mentioned in the same group of cities as Lachish ( Tell el-Hesy , 34 miles S.W. of Jerusalem). According to Eusebius ( Onom . 279), there was a Mizpeh in the district of Eleutheropolis ( Beit-Jibrîn , 23 m. S.W. of Jerus.), on the N., and another on the road from Eleutheropolis to Jerusalem. The former of these descriptions would suit Tell es-Safiyeh , on a hill of white chalk 7 1 / 2 m. N.N.W. of Belt-Jibrîn, with a commanding view, which, however, is now identified by many with Gath; the latter is too indefinite to permit of any identification being made with confidence.
4 . The Mizpah of Judges 10:17; Judges 11:11; Judges 11:34 , Jephthah’s home, apparently, to judge from the narrative, not very far from the Ammonite territory, and (11:33) the Aroer in front of Rabbath-ammon ( Joshua 13:25 ). The site can only be fixed conjecturally. Moore suggests the Jebel Osha ’, 16 m. N.W. of Rabbath-ammon, the highest point of the mountains S. of the Jabbok (3597 ft.), commanding a view of almost the whole Jordan Valley, as well as of much of the country opposite, on the W. of Jordan (Conder, Helh and Moab , 186 f.). Whether the ‘Mizpeh of Gilead’ of Judges 11:29 is the same spot is uncertain; from the difference of name, it would rather seem that it is not. The Mizpah of Hosea 5:1 is, however, very probably the same as Jephthah’s Mizpah. The Ramath-mizpeh (‘height of the outlook-point’) of Joshua 13:25 , on the N. border of Gad, has also been supposed to be the same as Jephthah’s Mizpah; but this is uncertain; a point further to the N. seems to be required.
5 . The Mizpah, on the W. of Jordan, mentioned in Judges 20:1; Judges 20:8; Judges 21:1; Judges 21:5; Jdg 21:8 , 1 Samuel 7:5 ff; 1 Samuel 10:17 as a meeting-place of Israelites on Important occasions; in 1 Kings 15:22 (= 2 Chronicles 16:8 ) as fortified by Asa; in 2 Kings 23:23; 2 Kings 23:25 , Jeremiah 40:5; Jeremiah 40:8 , and several times besides in Jeremiah 40:1-16; Jeremiah 41:1-18 , as the residence of Gedaliah, the governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar over Judah after the capture of Jerusalem in 586; and in Nehemiah 3:7; Nehemiah 3:15; Nehemiah 3:19 . The same place appears to be intended by the ‘Mizpeh’ of 1Ma 3:45 (Gr. Massçpha , as often in LXX [Note: Septuagint.] for ‘Mizpah,’ e.g. Judges 20:1; Judges 20:8 ), ‘over against Jerusalem,’ a former ‘place of prayer’ ( i.e . sanctuary) for Israel, at which the faithful Israelites assembled after Antiochus Epiphanes had desecrated the Temple and stopped all worship in it. This Mizpah was identified with much probability by Robinson (i. 460) with Nebi Samwil , a height 4 1 /2 m. N.W. of Jerusalem, 2935 ft. above the sea, and some 500 ft. above the surrounding plain (notice ‘gone or came up’ in Judges 20:3; Judges 21:5; Judges 21:8 ), with a commanding view of the country round ( ib . 457 f.). Nebi Samwil Isaiah 3 m. W.N.W. of Gibeah (cf. Judges 20:1; Judges 20:3 with the sequel), 2 m. S. of Gibeon (cf. Nehemiah 3:7 ), and a little N. of the present road from Joppa to Jerusalem. It is the actual point from which travellers ascending by the ancient route through the pass of Beth-horon caught their first glimpse of the interior of the hills of Palestine. ‘It is a very fair and delicious place, and it is called Mount Joy, because it gives joy to pilgrims’ hearts; for from that place men first see Jerusalem’ (Maundeville, cited in SP [Note: P Sinai and Palestine.] , p. 214). Its present name, Nebi Samwil (the ‘Prophet Samuel’), is due to the Moslem tradition that it was Samuel’s burial-place (cf. 1 Samuel 7:6; 1 Samuel 7:15 where Mizpah is mentioned as one of Samuel’s residences); and the mosque there once a Crusaders’ church contains a cenotaph revered by the Moslems as his tomb.
6. Mizpeh of Moab ( 1 Samuel 22:8 , ‘Mizpeh’ is perhaps also to be read in 1 Samuel 22:5 for ‘the hold’), the residence of the king of Moab when David consigned his parents to his care. It must have been situated on some eminence in Moab; but we have no further clue to its site.
S. R. Driver.
Holman Bible Dictionary [2]
The name Mizpah was used for at least two different sites in the Transjordan, one located in the territory of Gilead, the other in Moab. In Gilead, Laban and Jacob made a covenant ( Genesis 31:25-55 ), set up a pillar, and named it Mitzap ( Genesis 31:49 ). Mizpah was also the name of the hometown of Jephthah, the Gileadite ( Judges 11:1 ). While the location of Mizpah of Gilead is not known, it was most likely located in the northern part of Gilead, perhaps a site like Ramoth-gilead. See 1 Samuel 22:3-5 ) when Saul sought his life.
At least two sites and one region west of the Jordan were named Mizpah. The account of Joshua's encounter with Jabin, king of Hazor ( Joshua 11:1 ) refers to “the land of Mizpah” ( Joshua 11:3 ) and “the valley of Mizpeh” ( Joshua 11:8 ), a region in north Palestine, the location of which is unknown. A second Mizpeh west of the Jordan was located in the tribal territory of Judah ( Joshua 15:38 ). While the exact location is unknown, this Mizpeh may have been near Lachish.
The town of Mizpeh located in the territory of Benjamin ( Joshua 18:26 ) seems to be the most important of the Mizpeh's in the Old Testament. In spite of the numerous references to this important Old Testament site, its location is still debated. Two major sites have been suggested as possible locations: Nebi Samwil, located about five miles north of Jerusalem, and tell en-Nasbeh, located about eight miles north of Jerusalem. While a major excavation has never been done at Nebi Samwil, the stories of Samuel seem to fit this location. On the other hand, tell en-Nasbeh has been excavated, and the archaeological data fits well the history of Mizpeh of Benjamin.
The important role of Mizpah played in Old Testament history is reflected in the many events associated with the site. Mizpah was a rallying point for Israel as they gathered against the tribe of Benjamin ( Judges 20:1 ). Samuel gathered Israel to Mizpah for prayer in the light of the Philistine threat ( 1 Samuel 7:5-11 ). Mizpah was a major site at which legal decisions were made ( 1 Samuel 7:15-17 ). One of the most interesting chapters in the history of Mizpah took place after the Fall of Jerusalem. With Jerusalem in shambles following the Babylonian attack in 587 B.C., Mizpah became the administrative center of this Babylonian province. At Mizpah Gedaliah, who had been appointed governor of the province, sought to encourage those who had remained behind ( Jeremiah 40:1 ). See Watchtower; Samuel; Jephthah; Gedaliah .
LaMoine DeVries
Morrish Bible Dictionary [3]
1. The place where Jacob and Laban parted, after making a covenant and raising a heap of stones as a witness of the covenant and as a landmark between them. It was on the east of the Jordan, somewhere in Gilead. Genesis 31:49; Judges 10:17; Judges 11:11,29,34 . It is probably the place mentioned in Judges 20:1,3; Judges 21:1,5,8 . Some suppose it to be identical with Ramath-Mizpeh in Joshua 13:26; and this to be the same as RAMOTH-GILEAD. Others judge these to be all different places and that No. 1 is identified with Suf , 32 18' N, 35 50' E.
2. LAND OF MIZPEH, the resort of the Hivites, who joined with Jabin to attack Joshua. It was 'under Hermon,' and therefore in the north of Palestine, Joshua 11:3; this is possibly the same as
3. Valley OF MIZPEH to which Joshua chased the allies. Joshua 11:8 . Probably the extensive valley on the east of Mount Lebanon.
4. Town in the lowlands of Judah. Joshua 15:38 . Not identified.
5. City of Moab, where David placed his parents for safety. 1 Samuel 22:3 . Not identified.
6. City of Benjamin, in the vicinity of Ramah and Gibeon. Joshua 18:26 . It was the city to which Samuel gathered the people, as 'to the Lord,' and where he judged Israel, and where also he presented Saul to them as their king. 1 Samuel 7:5-16; 1 Samuel 10:17 . The city was rebuilt by Asa king of Judah, and, after the destruction of Jerusalem, Gedaliah the governor established himself there. 1 Kings 15:22; 2 Kings 25:23,25; 2 Chronicles 16:6; Jeremiah 40:6-15; Jeremiah 41:1-16; Hosea 5:1 . Probably the same place is alluded to in Nehemiah 3:7,15,19 . Identified by some with Neby Samwil, 31 50' N, 35 10' E .
