Dictionary Article

Name meaning “watchtower” in Hebrew (alternately spelled Mizpeh) used to designate a number of different locations mentioned in the OT and Apocrypha.

1. Place in Gilead where Jacob and Laban made a covenant (Gn 31:49) and set up a heap of stones to mark the borders between their territories.

Show passage in OET: GEN 31:49

OET-RV GEN 31:49

49 It’s also named ‘Mitspah’ (which means ‘watchtower’), because he said, “May Yahweh watch between me and you when we are hidden one from the other.

OET-LV GEN 31:49

49 And_(the)_Miʦpāh that he _said YHWH may _he _keep _watch between_me and_between_you if/because we _will _be _hidden each from_neighbour _of_his.

Jump to OET GEN 31:49 section.

2. Place referred to as “the land of Mizpah” (Jos 11:3) or the “valley of Mizpah” (Jos 11:8) near Mt Hermon and inhabited by the Hivites.

Show passage in OET: JOS 11:3

OET-RV JOS 11:3

3 and the kings of the Kena’anim (Canaanites) both east and west, and the Amorim, Hitim, Perizim, and the Yevusim who lived in the hill country, and to the Hivim by Mt. Hermon in the Mitspah region.

OET-LV JOS 11:3

3 The_Kənaˊₐnī/(Canaanite)[s] from_the_east and_from_the_west and_the_ʼAmorī[s] and_the_Ḩittiy[s] and_the_Pərizzī[s] and_the_Yəⱱūşī/(Jebusite)[s] in_country and_the_Ḩiūī[s] under Ḩermōn in_land of _(the)_Miʦpāh.

Show passage in OET: JOS 11:8

OET-RV JOS 11:8

8 and Yahweh enabled them to defeat them.

OET-LV JOS 11:8

8 And_he_gave _them YHWH in_the _hand _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_they_attacked _them and_they_pursued _them to Tsīdōn/(Sidon) great and_unto Misrephoth Maim and_unto the _valley _of Miʦpāh eastwards_to and_they_defeated _them until not left to/for_them a _survivor.

Jump to OET JOS 11:3 section.

Jump to OET JOS 11:8 section.

Show passage in OET: JOS 15:38

OET-RV JOS 15:38

38 Dil’an, Mitspah, Yakete’el,

OET-LV JOS 15:38

38 And_Dilean and_(the)_Miʦpāh and_Yoqtə^ʼēl/(Joktheel).

Jump to OET JOS 15:38 section.

4. Place in the tribal area of Benjamin (Jos 18:26). It was here that the Israelites gathered to war against the tribe of Benjamin (Jgs 20:1; 21:1) after the men of Gibeah had abused and killed the concubine of a visiting Levite. It was here that Samuel called all Israel together to pray for victory over the Philistines (1 Sm 7:5-8). Later, Samuel called for an assembly at Mizpah to publicly designate Saul as king and to instruct the people and king in the ways of the kingdom (10:17-25). In the time of Asa, Mizpah was a fortified town on the border between Israel and Judah (1 Kgs 15:22). After the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC to the Babylonians, Mizpah became the residence of Gedaliah the governor (2 Kgs 25:23-24; Jer 40:10), who was murdered there by Ishmael of the “royal seed” (Jer 41:3). Two days later Ishmael murdered a company of pilgrims who were going to Jerusalem to bring their offerings at the ruined temple, and he cast their bodies into a cistern that had been constructed centuries earlier by Asa.

Show passage in OET: JOS 18:26

OET-RV JOS 18:26

26 Mitspah, Kefirah, Motsah,

OET-LV JOS 18:26

26 And_(the)_Miʦpāh and_(the)_Kəfīrāh and_(the)_Mozah.

Show passage in OET: JDG 20:1

OET-RV JDG 20:1

20 Then all the Israelis from Dan in the north to Be’er -Sheva (Beersheba) in the south, and even from Gilead across the Yarden (Jordan), came and assembled before Yahweh at Mitspah with one single, united purpose.

OET-LV JDG 20:1

20 And_ all _of the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _they _went _out and_ the_congregation _it _was _assembled like_a _man one (to)_from_Dān and_unto Bəʼēr Sheⱱaˊ and_the _land _of (the)_Gilˊād to YHWH (the)_Miʦpāh.

Show passage in OET: JDG 21:1

OET-RV JDG 21:1

21 Now back in Mitspah, the Israeli men had promised never to allow their daughters to marry a Benyamite man.

OET-LV JDG 21:1

21 And_the _man _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) he _had _sworn at_Miʦpāh to_say anyone from_him/it not he _will _give daughter _of_his to_Binyāmīn to/for_(a)_woman.

Show passage in OET: SA1 7:5–8

OET-RV SA1 7:5

5 Then Shmuel called, “Gather all Yisrael (Israel) to Mitspah, and I’ll pray to Yahweh for you all.”

OET-RV SA1 7:6

6 So they gathered at Mitspah, and drew water and poured it out in front of Yahweh, and they fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against Yahweh.” And Shmuel guided the Israelis at Mitspah.

OET-RV SA1 7:7

7 When the Pelishtim heard that the Israelis had gathered at Mitspah, the Pelishti rulers decided to attack Yisrael. When the Israelis heard that, they were afraid of the Pelishtim

OET-RV SA1 7:8

8 and begged Shmuel, “Don’t stop crying out to our god Yahweh, so that he’ll rescue us from the Pelishtim.”

OET-LV SA1 7:5

5 And_ Shəmū^ʼēl _he/it _said gather DOM all _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to_(the)_Miʦpāh so_that _I _may _pray for_you(pl) to YHWH.

OET-LV SA1 7:6

6 And_they _gathered _together to_(the)_Miʦpāh and_they _drew water and_they _poured_it_out to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before YHWH and_they _fasted in _the_day (the)_that and_they _said there we _have _sinned to/for_YHWH and_ Shəmū^ʼēl _he _judged DOM the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) at_Miʦpāh.

OET-LV SA1 7:7

7 And_ the_Pəlishtiy _they _heard if/because _that the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) they _had _gathered _together to_(the)_Miʦpāh and_ the _rulers _of the_Pəlishtiy _they _went _up against Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_ the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _they _heard and_they _saw from_face/in _front _of the_Pəlishtiy.

OET-LV SA1 7:8

8 And_ the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _they _said to Shəmū^ʼēl/(Samuel) do _not keep _silent from_him/it from_crying _out to YHWH god _of_our so_that_he _may _deliver _us from_the _hand _of the_Pəlishtiy.

Show passage in OET: SA1 10:17–25

OET-RV SA1 10:17

17 Then Shmuel (Samuel) summoned the people to come before Yahweh at Mitspah,

OET-RV SA1 10:18

18 and he told them, “Yahweh, the god of Yisrael (Israel), says, ‘I myself brought Yisrael out of Mitsrayim (Egypt). I rescued you from Mitsri (Egyptian) control, and from all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’

OET-RV SA1 10:19

19 But since then, you all have rejected your god—the one who saves you from all your calamities and distresses. And you’ve all said to him, ‘We’d rather have a king over us.’ So station yourselves now in front of Yahweh by your tribes and clans.”

OET-RV SA1 10:20

20 Then Shmuel had all the Israeli tribes approach, and the tribe of Benyamin was selected.

OET-RV SA1 10:21

21 Then he had all the Benyamite clans approach, and the Matri clan was selected. Then Kish’s son, Sha’ul (Saul) was selected and they tried to find him, but they couldn’t find him anywhere

OET-RV SA1 10:22

22 so they asked Yahweh again, “Is that man around here anywhere?”
¶ “Look, he’s hiding among the supplies,” Yahweh replied.

OET-RV SA1 10:23

23 So they ran and got him from there, and when he took his place among the people, he was head and shoulders taller than anyone else.

OET-RV SA1 10:24

24 Then Shmuel announced to everyone, “Can you see the one that Yahweh has chosen? Certainly there’s no one else like him among all the people.”
¶ All the people saw that and responded, “Long live the king.”

OET-RV SA1 10:25

25 Then Shmuel explained how the kingship would work, and wrote it in a book and placed it in front of Yahweh. Then he sent everyone home.

OET-LV SA1 10:17

17 And_ Shəmū^ʼēl _he _called _together DOM the_people to YHWH (the)_Miʦpāh.

OET-LV SA1 10:18

18 And_he/it _said to the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) thus YHWH the _god _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) he _says I I _brought _up DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) from_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_I _delivered you(pl) from_the _hand _of Miʦrayim and_from_the _hand _of all _of the_kingdoms which_were_oppressing you(pl).

OET-LV SA1 10:19

19 And_you(pl) the_day you(pl)_have _rejected DOM god _of_your(pl) who he is_a _deliverer to/for_you(pl) from_all calamities _of_your(pl) and_troubles _of_your(pl) and_you(pl)_have _said to_him/it if/because a _king you _will _appoint over_us and_now present _yourselves to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before YHWH to_tribes _of_your(pl) and_to_families _of_your(pl).

OET-LV SA1 10:20

20 And_ Shəmū^ʼēl _he _brought _near DOM all _of the _tribes _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_ the _tribe _of Binyāmīn _it _was _taken _by _lot.

OET-LV SA1 10:21

21 And_he _brought _near DOM the _tribe _of Binyāmīn its and_ the _clan _of (the)_Matri _it _was _taken _by _lot and_ Shāʼūl/(Saul) the _son _of Qīsh _he _was _taken _by _lot and_they_sought _him and_not he _was _found.

OET-LV SA1 10:22

22 And_they _enquired again by_YHWH has_he _come yet here the_man and_ YHWH _he/it _said HERE he is_hiding _himself into the_vessels.

OET-LV SA1 10:23

23 And_they _ran and_they_took _him from_there and_he _presented _himself in _the_middle the_people and_he _was _tall from_all the_people from_shoulder _of_his and_upward_upwards.

OET-LV SA1 10:24

24 And_ Shəmū^ʼēl/(Samuel) _he/it _said to all _of the_people do_you(pl)_see the_one_whom he _has _chosen in/on/over_him/it YHWH if/because there_is_not like_him in_all the_people and_ all _of the_people _they _shouted and_they _said the_king may _he _live.

OET-LV SA1 10:25

25 And_ Shəmū^ʼēl _he/it _spoke to the_people DOM the _right[s]_of the _kingship and_he _wrote in_book and_he _set_it to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before YHWH and_ Shəmū^ʼēl _he _sent _away DOM all _of the_people each _man to_his _own _of_house.

Show passage in OET: KI1 15:22

OET-RV KI1 15:22

22 Then King Asa informed all Yehudah that they were needed at Ramah. They removed the stones and timber from Baesha’s fortifications, and king Asa used the materials to build Geva (in Benyamin) and Mitspah.

OET-LV KI1 15:22

22 And_the_king ʼĀşāʼ he _made _proclamation _to DOM all _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) there_was_not an _exempt_person and_they _carried _off DOM the _stones _of (the)_Rāmāh and_DOM wood(s)_of_its which Baˊshāʼ he _had _built and_he/it _built with_them the_king ʼĀşāʼ DOM Geⱱaˊ of _Binyāmīn and_DOM (the)_Miʦpāh.

Show passage in OET: KI2 25:23–24

OET-RV KI2 25:23

23 When all the army captains and their men heard that the Babylonian king had appointed Gedalyah, they came to Gedalyah at Mitspah. This was Netanyah’s son Yishmael (Ishmael), Kareah’s son Yohanan, Tanhumet’s son Serayah the Netofati, and the Ma’akati’s son Ya’azanyah, along with their men.

OET-RV KI2 25:24

24 Gedalyah made an agreement with them and their men, telling them, “Don’t be afraid of the Babylonian officials. Stay in the land and serve the Babylonian king, and he’ll be good to you.”

OET-LV KI2 25:23

23 And_ all _of the _commanders _of the _armies they and_the_men _they _heard if/because _that the _king _of Bāⱱel he _had _appointed DOM Gədal^yāh and_they _came to Gədal^yāh (the)_Miʦpāh and_Yishmāˊ^ʼēl/(Ishmael) the _son _of Nətan^yāh and_Yōḩānān/(Johanan) the _son _of Qārēaḩ and_Sərā^yāh the _son _of Tanḩumet the_Nəţofātī and_Yaʼₐzan^yāh/(Jaazaniah) the _son _of the_Maˊₐkātī they and_men _of_their.

OET-LV KI2 25:24

24 And_he _swore _an _oath to/for_them Gədal^yāh and_to_men _of_their and_he/it _said to/for_them do _not be _afraid from_the _servants _of the_ones_from _Kasdiy dwell in/on _the_earth and_serve DOM the _king _of Bāⱱel so_that _it _may _go _well for_you(pl).

Show passage in OET: JER 40:10

OET-RV JER 40:10

10 See, I’m living in Mitspah to meet with the Babylonians who came to us. So harvest wine, summer fruit, and oil and store them in your containers. Live in the cities that you’ve occupied.”

OET-LV JER 40:10

10 And_I here_I will _be_dwelling at_Miʦpāh to_stand to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before the_ones_from _Kasdiy who they _will _come to_us and_you(pl) gather wine and_summer _fruit and_oil and_put_them in_vessels _of_your(pl) and_dwell in_cities _of_your(pl) which you(pl)_have _taken _hold _of.

Show passage in OET: JER 41:3

OET-RV JER 41:3

3 and they killed all the Yehudim (Jews) who were with Gedalyah there at Mitspah, as well as the Babylonian soldiers who were there.

OET-LV JER 41:3

3 And_DOM all _of the_Yəhūdī/(Judeans) who they _were with_him/it with Gədal^yāh at_Miʦpāh and_DOM the_ones_from _Kasdiy who they _were _found there DOM the _men _of (the)_war Yishmāˊ^ʼēl/(Ishmael) he _struck _down.

Jump to OET JOS 18:26 section.

Jump to OET JDG 20:1 section.

Jump to OET JDG 21:1 section.

Jump to OET SA1 7:5–8 section.

Jump to OET SA1 10:17–25 section.

Jump to OET KI1 15:22 section.

Jump to OET KI2 25:23–24 section.

Jump to OET JER 40:10 section.

Jump to OET JER 41:3 section.

In the intertestamental period Mizpah continued to be an important religious center. Judas Maccabeus called the people together at Mizpah “because Israel formerly had a place of prayer in Mizpah” (1 Macc 3:46).

Show passage in OET: MA1 3:46

OET-RV MA1 3:46

46 They gathered themselves together, and came to Mitspah, near Yerushalem; for in Mitspah there used to be a place of prayer for Yisrael.

OET-LV MA1 3:46

46 and to_assemble, and ⟦ἤλθοσαν⟧ toward Massaʸfa before Hierousalaʸm, that/since place prayer toward Massaʸfa the/this/who before/previously the/this/who Israaʸl.

Jump to OET MA1 3:46 section.

5. Home of Jephthah, from which he led the Israelites in battle against the Ammonites, and to which he returned to carry out his vow (Jgs 10–11 OET JDG 10:1–18 · OET JDG 11:1–40). This is possibly the same place as the Ramath-mizpeh of Joshua 13:26 and is thought by many to be identified with Khirbat Jal’ad just south of the Jabbok.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary