The Hebrew name ʻÊyn Mishpâṭ, represented by H5880, literally means fountain of judgment. It is a proper name for a location, En-Mishpat, which is found near Palestine. This name appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire biblical record, marking a specific and singular event in the narrative.
The sole appearance of H5880 is in Genesis 14:7, where it marks a turning point in the campaign of the kings from the east. The verse states that they returned H7725 and came H935 to Enmishpat, which the text explicitly identifies as Kadesh H6946. At this location, they smote H5221 the Amalekites and the Amorites H567 who dwelt H3427 in the region. The context is one of military conquest and judgment enacted at a place whose very name implies it.
Several related words from its only biblical context help clarify the significance of the event at En-mishpat:
- H7725 shûwb (to turn back): This verb describes the action of the invading kings, who returned to this specific place to carry out their attack. It often carries a sense of reversal or response Genesis 14:7.
- H5221 nâkâh (to strike): This word denotes the violent action that occurred at En-mishpat. It is used for smiting or slaughtering, and in this case, it describes the defeat of the Amorites and Amalekites Genesis 14:7.
- H6946 Qâdêsh (sanctuary): The text directly equates En-mishpat with Kadesh, a place that would later become a significant location during Israel's wanderings in the wilderness Numbers 20:1.
- H567 ʼĔmôrîy (Amorite): This identifies one of the Canaanitish tribes defeated at the "fountain of judgment," a people who are frequently mentioned as inhabitants of the land promised to Israel Joshua 24:15.
While mentioned only once, the name H5880 carries significant weight due to its meaning and context.
- A Place of Judgment: The literal meaning, "fountain of judgment," is perfectly aligned with the event described in Genesis 14:7. The location serves as the source or setting of a decisive military strike, a physical manifestation of judgment upon its inhabitants.
- Confluence with Holiness: Its identification with Kadesh H6946, meaning "sanctuary" or holy place, creates a powerful theological statement. Judgment and holiness are brought together, suggesting that the acts of judgment are not random but are connected to a place of significance.
- Foreshadowing Divine Action: The smiting of the Amorites H567 at this site prefigures the larger-scale dispossession of the Canaanite tribes that God would later command, as seen in promises to drive out the Amorites before Israel Joshua 3:10.
In summary, ʻÊyn Mishpâṭ H5880 is more than just an ancient place name. Though it appears in a single verse, its meaning as the "fountain of judgment" provides a theological lens through which to view the events of Genesis 14:7. Its connection to the pivotal location of Kadesh and the smiting of the Amorites embeds it within the broader biblical themes of judgment, holiness, and the unfolding of God's purposes in the land.
TRV