1 Samuel 7:5

Modern

Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”

Traditional

And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord.

Literal

And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to YHWH.”

Latin

Dixit autem Samuel: Congregate universum Israël in Masphath, ut orem pro vobis Dominum.

Hebrew

English

Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”

Mizpah was a government center and gathering place for the nation (see 1 Samuel 7:16; 10:17; Judges 20:1).
I will pray … on your behalf: Eli’s question in 1 Samuel 2:25 is answered here; Samuel was the mediator Israel needed.

Israel's victory over the Philistines was due to their improved relationship with God, not because of the ark's presence (see 1 Samuel 4:3–11).

Theme notes and profiles

Judges 20:1
Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.
1 Samuel 12:23
As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.
Joshua 15:38
Dilan, Mizpeh, Joktheel,
Nehemiah 9:1
On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth, with dust on their heads.
2 Kings 25:23
When all the commanders of the armies and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite, as well as their men.
Joel 2:16
Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the aged, gather the children, even those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.
1 Samuel 7:12
Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
1 Samuel 10:17
After this, Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah
1 Samuel 7:16
Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places.

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Samuel: Prophet and last judge of Israel before the kings

Mizpah: A city in Benjamin; a place of gathering and judgment