feminine of מִצְפֶּה; Mitspah, the name of two places in Palestine; Mitspah. (This seems rather to be only an orthographic variation of מִצְפֶּה when 'in pause'.)
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Mitspâh**, represented by `{{H4709}}`, is a place name used for two locations in Palestine. It appears **32 times** across **31 unique verses** in the Bible. The name itself is defined as the feminine of מִצְפֶּה and is primarily known as a significant site for national gatherings, covenants, and military activities in the history of Israel.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, **Mizpah** serves as a central location for several key events. It was a place where the entire congregation of Israel gathered before the LORD for critical decisions, from Dan to Beersheba [[Judges 20:1]]. It was here that Samuel judged Israel, and the people gathered to fast and confess their sin, saying, "We have sinned against the LORD" [[1 Samuel 7:6]]. The location also held strategic importance; it was one of the cities fortified by King Asa of Judah [[1 Kings 15:22]]. After the fall of Jerusalem, Mizpah became a temporary administrative center under Gedaliah, who was appointed governor by the king of Babylon [[2 Kings 25:23]], and was also the site of his tragic assassination [[2 Kings 25:25]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the significance of the events that occurred at `{{H4709}}` Mizpah:
* `{{H6908}}` **qâbats** (gather): This word highlights Mizpah's role as a national assembly point, as when the people "gathered together to Mizpeh" under Samuel's leadership [[1 Samuel 7:6]].
* `{{H8199}}` **shâphaṭ** (judge): This term is central to Mizpah's function as a place of justice and divine order, as Samuel "judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh" [[1 Samuel 7:6]].
* `{{H1129}}` **bânâh** (build): This word underscores Mizpah's strategic and physical importance, as King Asa "built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah" [[1 Kings 15:22]].
* `{{H5971}}` **ʻam** (people): The collective identity of Israel is frequently tied to this location, where "the people made him head and captain over them" [[Judges 11:11]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H4709}}` is demonstrated through the pivotal events that took place there.
* **Divine Watchfulness:** The name is first introduced as a place of covenant, where it is said, "The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another" [[Genesis 31:49]].
* **National Repentance:** Mizpah was the site of a profound national revival where Israel fasted, poured out water before the LORD, and confessed their sins, leading to a period of deliverance [[1 Samuel 7:6]].
* **Solemn Oaths:** It was a location where Israel entered into binding national oaths before God, such as the oath not to give their daughters to the tribe of Benjamin [[Judges 21:1]].
* **A Symbol of Corruption:** In later history, the prophet Hosea uses Mizpah as an example of spiritual decay, declaring that the leaders of Israel had become "a snare on Mizpah," turning a place of sacred history into one of judgment [[Hosea 5:1]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4709}}` **Mitspâh** is far more than a geographical marker. It functions as a stage for some of the most dramatic moments in Israel's history, from sacred covenants and national repentance to political intrigue and tragic betrayal. Its story reflects the fluctuating spiritual state of the nation, serving at times as a beacon of hope and divine deliverance and at other times as a symbol of the leadership's failures.
TRV