Jos 15:38, Judg 20:1, 1Sa 7:12, 16, 10:17, 2Ki 25:23 | TSK | STEP

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.

1 Samuel 7:12

took a stone.

Ge 28:18,19; 31:45-52; 35:14; Jos 4:9,20-24; 24:26,27; Isa 19:19

Ebenezer. that is, The stone of help.

4:1; 5:1; Ge 22:14; Ex 17:15

Hitherto.

Ps 71:6,17; Isa 46:3,4; Ac 26:22; 2Co 1:10

1 Samuel 7:16

he went.When he was at Bethel, the tribe of Ephraim and all the northern parts of the country could attend him; when at Gilgal, the tribe of Benjamin and those beyond Jordan could have easy access to him; and when at Mizpeh, he was within the reach of Judah, Simeon, and Gad: but at Ramah was the place of his ordinary abode; and there he held his court, for there he judged Israel: and as it is probable that Shiloh was destroyed, it is said (ver. 17) that there, i.e., at Ramah, "he built an altar to the Lord."

in circuit. Heb. and he circuited.

Jud 5:10; 10:4; 12:14; Ps 75:2; 82:3,4

1 Samuel 10:17

unto the Lord.

7:5,6; Jud 20:1

2 Kings 25:23

And when.

Jer 40:7-9,11,12

Mizpah.There were several places of the name of Mizpah, or Mizpeh, and we do not certainly know which of them this was; but it is probable that it was that situated east of Jordan, in the mountains of Gilead, (Ge 31:49,) and most contiguous to Babylon; and therefore the most proper for the residence of Gedaliah.