MIZ'PAII, or MIZ'PEH (Heb., watch, out look). The name of several places in Palestine. of which the most important are: ( 1 I The heap of stones and pillar set up by Jacob and his brethren as a witness of the covenant between Jacob and Laban. It was also called Galeed by Jacob, and Jegar-sahadutha by Lakin (Gen. xxxi. 44-49). the latter being the Western Ara maic rendering of the Hebrew pal-`ed Cheap of testimony'). The narrative points to the exist ence of a sanctuary in Galeed which was known as The pillar and the heap of stones arc to be regarded as objects for the cult—the former a Baal symbol, the latter a boundary stone, serving also a- an altar. it was at this sanctuary that Israel was encamped before the conflict with the Ammonites (Judges x. 17), which, as Gen. xxxi. 25 informs us. lay in Gilead (upon which Gal-ed represents a play). The indications in the Old Testament are insufficient for determining the site of the place with certainty. it lay north of the Jablmk, and perhaps near the modern Jerash, which answers the conditions involved. (2) The place in the territory of Benjamin where Israel gathered before punishing the tribe of Benjamin for their outrage on the concubine of the Levite at Gilwah (Judges xix.-xx.). and probably also the place where Samuel assembled Israel to resist tln• Philistines and subsequently to present Saul as King (I. Sam. x. 17 sqq.).
though it is also possible that the two places may be distinct. The location is not certain. It may be a point on the mountain ridge north of Shafat. These gatherings again indicate the presence of a sanctuary at and the con tinued importance of the place is made manifest by its choice as a seat of government under Gcda liah (II. Kings XXV. 23; Jer. xl. Gl. In post exilie times we Meet With references to Mizpall, and it is of special interest to note that in the day; of the Mace:Owe, Mizpah again becomes a gathering•place for the Jews (I. Mow. iii. 1(i). Besides these two Mizpahs there are references in the Old Testament (a) to the land of INlizpah (Josh. xi. 3) and the valley of Alizpali (ib., xi. 8). which are identical. This Mizpah is nu•n Honed in conneetion with the battle of .Merom (q.v.), and may be located near Hermon. A fourth Nlizpah was situated in the 'lowiand' of Judea (Josh. xv. 38). and a fifth in Moab (1. Sam. xxii. 31. The use of as an inscrip tion for memorial rings is based upon the words occurring in connection with the setting up of the •heap' of stones by Jacob and his brethren: The Lord watch between me and thee" (Gen. xxxi. 49).