1 Samuel 10:17
And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;
Original Language Analysis
וַיַּצְעֵ֤ק
called
H6817
וַיַּצְעֵ֤ק
called
Strong's:
H6817
Word #:
1 of 7
to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 7
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָעָ֔ם
the people
H5971
הָעָ֔ם
the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
4 of 7
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
Historical Context
Mizpah, likely Tell en-Nasbeh north of Jerusalem, served as an important assembly site throughout Israel's history. Its elevated location ('watchtower') provided practical advantages for large gatherings and symbolic significance as a place of covenant vigilance. Archaeological excavations reveal substantial fortifications from this period.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God often confirm privately revealed purposes through public processes?
- How does the sacred nature of Israel's political assembly challenge modern secular assumptions about governance?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;
Samuel's convocation at Mizpah (Mitzpah, meaning 'watchtower') shifts from private anointing to public selection. The phrase 'unto the LORD' (el-YHWH) emphasizes the sacred, covenantal nature of this assembly - it was not merely political convention but religious convocation. Mizpah held significant history: Jacob and Laban made their covenant there (Genesis 31:49); Israel assembled there during the Benjamite civil war (Judges 20-21); and Samuel previously gathered Israel there for repentance and deliverance from Philistines (1 Samuel 7:5-6). This continuity of sacred space underscored that establishing monarchy occurred within, not apart from, Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh. Samuel, as prophet and judge, possessed the authority to summon all Israel. The gathering's purpose would be to confirm through lot-casting what God had already revealed privately - a pattern showing that divine sovereignty works through human processes.