Gen 31:49, Jos 18:26, Judg 20:1, 21:5, 8, 1Sa 7:5-7, 10:17, 1Ki 15:22 | TSK | STEP | Mizpah. i.e., a beacon, or watch-tower. Mizpeh.

10:17; 11:11; Jos 15:38; 18:26; 1Sa 7:5,6; 10:17; 2Ki 25:23It does not appear that the Israelites on this occasion, were summoned by the authority of any one common head, but they came together by the consent and agreement, as it were, of one common heart, fired with a holy zeal for the honour of God and Israel. The place of their meeting was Mizpeh; they gathered together unto the Lord there; for Mizpeh was so very near to Shiloh, that their encampment might very well be supposed to reach from Mizpeh to Shiloh. Shiloh was a small town, and therefore, when there was a general meeting of the people to present themselves before God, they chose Mizpeh for their head quarters, which was the next adjoining city of note; perhaps, because they were not willing to give that trouble to Shiloh, which so great an assembly would occasion; it being the residence of the priests that attended the tabernacle.

Judges 21:5

a great oath.

1,18; 5:23; Le 27:28,29; 1Sa 11:7; Jer 48:10

Judges 21:8

Jabesh-gilead.This place, as its name imports, was situated in Gilead, east of Jordan. Eusebius and Jerome say it was a great town in their time, standing upon a hill, six miles south from Pella, in the way to Geresa, now Djerash. The Wady Yabes, mentioned by Burckhardt, which empties itself into the Jordan, in the neighbourhood of Bisan or Beth-shan (see 1 Sa 31:11,) and upon which Pella was situated, (celebrated by Pliny, 1. v. c. 18, for its fine waters,) seems to have taken its name from Jabesh. Near this spot, we must therefore look for its site; and the place called Kalaat Rabbad seems to correspond, very nearly, to the spot; though it probably still retains among the Arabs its ancient name.

1Sa 11:1-3; 31:11-13; 2Sa 2:5,6

1 Samuel 7:5-7

Gather.

Ne 9:1; Joe 2:16

Mizpeh.

12,16; 10:17; Jos 15:38; Jud 20:1; 2Ki 25:23

I will pray.

12:23

drew water.Grotius says, that the pouring out of water means the shedding of tears; and the Targum reads, "And they poured out their hearts in penitence, as waters, before the Lord." Others suppose that it was done emblematically, to represent the contrition of their hearts, and their desire to wash away their past offences. But some learned men conceive that it was poured out as a libation, in token of joy, after they had fasted and confessed their sin, as they were wont to do in the feast of tabernacles. (See note on Nu. 29:35.)

1:15; 2Sa 14:14; Job 16:20; Ps 6:6; 42:3; 119:136; Jer 9:1

La 2:11,18; 3:49

fasted.

2Ch 20:3; Ezr 8:21-23; Ne 9:1-3; Da 9:3-5; Joe 2:12; Jon 3:1-10

We have sinned.

Le 26:40; Jud 10:10; 1Ki 8:47; Ezr 9:5-10; Job 33:27; 40:4; 42:6

Ps 38:3-8; 106:6; Jer 3:13,14; 31:19; Lu 15:18

judged.

Jud 3:10; Ne 9:27; Eze 20:4

afraid.

13:6; 17:11; Ex 14:10; 2Ch 20:3