Mizpah

Or Miz’peh, watch-tower; the look-out. (1.) A place in Gilead, so named by Laban, who overtook Jacob at this spot (Gen. 31:49) on his return to Palestine from Padan-aram. Here Jacob and Laban set up their memorial cairn of stones. It is the same as Ramath-mizpeh (Josh. 13:26). (2.) A town in Gilead, where Jephthah resided, and where he assumed the command of the Israelites in a time of national danger. Here he made his rash vow; and here his daughter submitted to her mysterious fate (Judg. 10:17; 11:11, 34). It may be the same as Ramoth-Gilead (Josh. 20:8), but it is more likely that it is identical with the foregoing, the Mizpeh of Gen. 31:23, 25, 48, 49. (3.) Another place in Gilead, at the foot of Mount Hermon, inhabited by Hivites (Josh. 11:3, 8). The name in Hebrew here has the article before it, “the Mizpeh,” “the watch-tower.” The modern village of Metullah, meaning also “the look-out,” probably occupies the site so called. (4.) A town of Moab to which David removed his parents for safety during his persecution by Saul (1 Sam. 22:3). This was probably the citadel known as Kir-Moab, now Kerak. While David resided here he was visited by the prophet Gad, here mentioned for the first time, who was probably sent by Samuel to bid him leave the land of Moab and betake himself to the land of Judah. He accordingly removed to the forest of Hareth (q.v.), on the edge of the mountain chain of Hebron. (5.) A city of Benjamin, “the watch-tower”, where the people were accustomed to meet in great national emergencies (Josh. 18:26; Judg. 20:1, 3; 21:1, 5; 1 Sam. 7:5-16). It has been supposed to be the same as Nob (1 Sam. 21:1; 22:9-19). It was some 4 miles north-west of Jerusalem, and was situated on the loftiest hill in the neighbourhood, some 600 feet above the plain of Gibeon. This village has the modern name of Neby Samwil, i.e., the prophet Samuel, from a tradition that Samuel’s tomb is here. (See NOB.) Samuel inaugurated the reformation that characterized his time by convening a great assembly of all Israel at Mizpeh, now the politico-religious centre of the nation. There, in deep humiliation on account of their sins, they renewed their vows and entered again into covenant with the God of their fathers. It was a period of great religious awakening and of revived national life. The Philistines heard of this assembly, and came up against Israel. The Hebrews charged the Philistine host with great fury, and they were totally routed. Samuel commemorated this signal victory by erecting a memorial-stone, which he called “Ebenezer” (q.v.), saying, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us” (1 Sam. 7:7-12).

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

MIZ'PAH, and MIZ'PEH (watch-tower), the name of several places in Palestine. On Mount Gilead, also called Mizpeh of Gilead, Jud 11:29, and elsewhere probably Ramoth-mizpeh, Josh 13:26, and Ramoth-gilead, 1 Kgs 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,Deut 23:25, Gen 24:48, 2 Kgs 5:52. Here also the Israelites assembled to fight against the Ammonites, Jud 10:17: and here Jephthah was met by his daughter. Jud 11:29. Some suppose that this was the place also where the tribes assembled to avenge the great sin committed in Benjamin, Jud 20:1, Num 1:3; Jud 21:1, Jud 21:5, Acts 21:8, but this is more usually applied to the Mizpah in Benjamin. See No. 6. This Mizpah has been identified with a high peak east of the Jordan, 3 miles north-west of Ramoth-gilead, called Jebel Osh'a, or "the Mount of Hosea." Conder suggests Remtheh, 25 miles west of Bozrah, but Merrill, with greater probability, locates it at Kulat er Rubad on the Wady 'Ajlun, about 10 miles east of the Jordan. This summit commands a wide view, and is in harmony with the name Mizpeh, or "watch-tower." Mizpeh of Moab, where the king of that nation was living when David committed his parents to his care, 1 Sam 22:3; possibly now Kerak. The land of Mizpeh, in the North of Palestine, the residence of the Hivites, Josh 11:3; possibly identical with - The valley of Mizpeh, Josh 11:3, 1 Kgs 15:8, whither the confederate hosts were pursued by Joshua; perhaps the modern Buka'a, the great country of Coele-Syria, between Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon. A city in Judah, Josh 15:38:possibly identical with the modern Tell es-Safiyeh, or, as Conder has suggested, at Kirhbet el-Musheirifeh, near Gaza. The position fits and the name is the Arabic equivalent of the Hebrew. This is the place others have identified with Misrephothmaim, which See. A city in Benjamin, Josh 18:26, where Israel assembled. 1 Sam 7:5-7, 1 Sam 7:11-12, 1 Sam 7:16. Here Saul was elected king. 1 Sam 10:17-21. Asa fortified Mizpah. 1 Kgs 15:22; 2 Chr 16:6; it was where Gedaliah was assassinated, 2 Kgs 25:23, Gal 4:25; Jer 40:6-15; Jer 41:1-16; the men of Mizpah joined in rebuilding a part of the wall of Jerusalem. Neh 3:7, 2 Sam 20:15, Acts 1:19. Messepha of 1 Mace. 3:46, which is probably identical with this place, and about 3i miles west of north from Jerusalem, is the modern village of Neby Samwil, standing on a peak which rises about 600 feet above the plain of Gibeon. This village is claimed as the most probable site for Mizpah by Robinson, Porter, Baedeker, and others. It is 3006 feet above the sea-level, and the highest mountain near Jerusalem. From its summit the most extensive view in Southern Palestine is obtained, embracing the Mediterranean, Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives and the mountains of Moab. Upon its summit is a mosque, once a Christian church, built by the Crusaders on the spot where pilgrims first saw Jerusalem. Grove, Stanley, Bonar, Major Wilson, and others would identify Mizpah with Mount Scopus, one of the summits just north of Jerusalem in the continuation of the Olivet range. From this place the traveller gets a very complete view of the Holy City, and from there the emperor Titus looked down upon it. Not far away is the modern village of Shafat. Conder notes that a part of the ridge is called Arkub es-Suffa, or "the ridge of the view." Ensebius and Jerome located Mizpah near Kirjathjearim, and Conder notes a Shufa immediately south of Kuryet el-Anab (Kirjath-jearim), a name having exactly the same meaning with Mizpah - viz., "place of view." Conder also says that there is a place called Umni Suffa. equivalent to the Hebrew Mizpah, existing on the road from Samaria to Jerusalem, which would be a suitable position for the Mizpah of Neh 3:Jeremiah, 40-41. which is not necessarily the Mizpah of Samuel. (Quarterly, 1876, p. 171.) But his final conclusion is that Mizpah and Nob are identical. Whether the Mizpah of Hosea 5:1, was in Benjamin or in Gilead is uncertain.

Mizpeh, a watch-tower; speculation

MIZ'PAH, and MIZ'PEH (watch-tower), the name of several places in Palestine. On Mount Gilead, also called Mizpeh of Gilead, Jud 11:29, and elsewhere probably Ramoth-mizpeh, Josh 13:26, and Ramoth-gilead, 1 Kgs 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,Deut 23:25, Gen 24:48, 2 Kgs 5:52. Here also the Israelites assembled to fight against the Ammonites, Jud 10:17: and here Jephthah was met by his daughter. Jud 11:29. Some suppose that this was the place also where the tribes assembled to avenge the great sin committed in Benjamin, Jud 20:1, Num 1:3; Jud 21:1, Jud 21:5, Acts 21:8, but this is more usually applied to the Mizpah in Benjamin. See No. 6. This Mizpah has been identified with a high peak east of the Jordan, 3 miles north-west of Ramoth-gilead, called Jebel Osh'a, or "the Mount of Hosea." Conder suggests Remtheh, 25 miles west of Bozrah, but Merrill, with greater probability, locates it at Kulat er Rubad on the Wady 'Ajlun, about 10 miles east of the Jordan. This summit commands a wide view, and is in harmony with the name Mizpeh, or "watch-tower." Mizpeh of Moab, where the king of that nation was living when David committed his parents to his care, 1 Sam 22:3; possibly now Kerak. The land of Mizpeh, in the North of Palestine, the residence of the Hivites, Josh 11:3; possibly identical with - The valley of Mizpeh, Josh 11:3, 1 Kgs 15:8, whither the confederate hosts were pursued by Joshua; perhaps the modern Buka'a, the great country of Coele-Syria, between Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon. A city in Judah, Josh 15:38:possibly identical with the modern Tell es-Safiyeh, or, as Conder has suggested, at Kirhbet el-Musheirifeh, near Gaza. The position fits and the name is the Arabic equivalent of the Hebrew. This is the place others have identified with Misrephothmaim, which See. A city in Benjamin, Josh 18:26, where Israel assembled. 1 Sam 7:5-7, 1 Sam 7:11-12, 1 Sam 7:16. Here Saul was elected king. 1 Sam 10:17-21. Asa fortified Mizpah. 1 Kgs 15:22; 2 Chr 16:6; it was where Gedaliah was assassinated, 2 Kgs 25:23, Gal 4:25; Jer 40:6-15; Jer 41:1-16; the men of Mizpah joined in rebuilding a part of the wall of Jerusalem. Neh 3:7, 2 Sam 20:15, Acts 1:19. Messepha of 1 Mace. 3:46, which is probably identical with this place, and about 3i miles west of north from Jerusalem, is the modern village of Neby Samwil, standing on a peak which rises about 600 feet above the plain of Gibeon. This village is claimed as the most probable site for Mizpah by Robinson, Porter, Baedeker, and others. It is 3006 feet above the sea-level, and the highest mountain near Jerusalem. From its summit the most extensive view in Southern Palestine is obtained, embracing the Mediterranean, Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives and the mountains of Moab. Upon its summit is a mosque, once a Christian church, built by the Crusaders on the spot where pilgrims first saw Jerusalem. Grove, Stanley, Bonar, Major Wilson, and others would identify Mizpah with Mount Scopus, one of the summits just north of Jerusalem in the continuation of the Olivet range. From this place the traveller gets a very complete view of the Holy City, and from there the emperor Titus looked down upon it. Not far away is the modern village of Shafat. Conder notes that a part of the ridge is called Arkub es-Suffa, or "the ridge of the view." Ensebius and Jerome located Mizpah near Kirjathjearim, and Conder notes a Shufa immediately south of Kuryet el-Anab (Kirjath-jearim), a name having exactly the same meaning with Mizpah - viz., "place of view." Conder also says that there is a place called Umni Suffa. equivalent to the Hebrew Mizpah, existing on the road from Samaria to Jerusalem, which would be a suitable position for the Mizpah of Neh 3:Jeremiah, 40-41. which is not necessarily the Mizpah of Samuel. (Quarterly, 1876, p. 171.) But his final conclusion is that Mizpah and Nob are identical. Whether the Mizpah of Hosea 5:1, was in Benjamin or in Gilead is uncertain.