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Answer
Mizpah is the name of a couple of cities mentioned in the Bible. The name Mizpah means “watchtower” or “lookout” and is first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 31:45–49. The Mizpah in this passage was located in Gilead, a mountainous region east of the Jordan River. Jacob had fled from his scheming father-in-law, Laban, and was heading back to his father’s homeland “And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.”, (Genesis 31:3,21) “So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.”, (Genesis 31:3,21). Jacob and his wives and children had traveled for seven days when Laban caught up with them. Jacob did not know that his wife Rachel had stolen her father’s household gods, and Laban confronted them about it. He was angry that Jacob had left secretly, taking Laban’s daughters and grandchildren without saying goodbye. The two men had words, and Laban resigned himself to the fact that they were leaving.
The two men heaped up a pile of rocks to mark the place where they made a covenant and agreed to part on amicable terms. Laban named the place Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. However, Laban’s parting words gave the place its more famous name, Mizpah, when he said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today. . . . May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other” (Genesis 31:48-49). The Jews kept the name Mizpah (“Watchtower”) due to Jacob’s importance in Jewish history.
The Mizpah where Jacob and Laban parted ways is also called Ramath Mizpeh in Joshua 13:26. AnothOne notable event in this Mizpah involves a man named Jephthah who was persuaded by his countrymen to lead a war against the Ammonites. Jephthah made an agreement with the Gileadites “before the Lord in Mizpah” «Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh. », (Judges 11:11). The wording indicates that the tabernacle and/or the ark of the covenant was at that time located in Mizpah.
As Jephthah advanced against his enemies, he made another vow to the Lord: “If you deliver the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return victorious from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will offer it as a burnt offering” (Judges 11:30-31). It is important to note that the Lord did not request such a vow from Jephthah, but his words may have been prompted by fear or an attempt to negotiate with God. The outcome of Jephthah’s hasty vow should serve as a cautionary tale about making thoughtless vows to the Lord.
The Lord granted Jephthah victory, but upon his return to his home in Mizpah, his only child, a daughter who was dancing and celebrating her father’s triumph, was the first to come out of the door of his house (Judges 11:34-35). Thus, Mizpah became the setting of a tragic tale that young Israelite women commemorated for years in honor of Jephthah’s daughter (verse 40).
Another significant Mizpah in the Bible was situated in the land of Benjamin, near Jerusalem. When the Israelites gathered to address the atrocity involving the Levite’s concubine, they assembled in Mizpah of Benjamin (Judges 20:1;Judges 21:1). Mizpah was usedBy the prophet Samuel as a home base (1 Samuel 7:5-6), Mizpah witnessed a significant triumph over the Philistines (verse 11). It was in close proximity to Mizpah that Samuel raised the Ebenezer stone to commemorate God’s assistance (verse 12). Saul, a Benjamite, was selected as Israel’s inaugural king in Mizpah (1 Samuel 10:17-25). Subsequently, King Asa fortified Mizpah against hostile incursions «Then King Asa issued a decree throughout all Judah; no one was exempt, and they dismantled the stones of Ramah and its timber, which Baasha had used to fortify; King Asa then used them to fortify Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah. », (1 Kings 15:22).
