Bible Strands
Judges 10:17
Then the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, and the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative records a military mobilization immediately following Israel's removal of foreign idols and renewed service to the Lord. Ammonite forces are called to arms and encamp in Gilead, while Israelite forces gather and encamp at Mizpah.
The words — The Hebrew וַיִּצָּעֲקוּ (va-yi-tza'aku) literally means "they were summoned" or "cried out," describing the call to arms. The verb וַיֵּאָסְפוּ (va-yi-'asefu) denotes the Israelites gathering together for battle.
The thread — Mizpah appears in Judges 11:29 as a route point for Jephthah and in Genesis 31:49 as a place named for divine watchfulness. Judges 11:11 records the people making Jephthah their commander after he speaks his terms, though the appointment location is not specified.
Why it lands — The passage records the immediate military response to Israel's spiritual renewal without embellishment. It requires the reader to observe the direct correlation between covenant faithfulness and national vulnerability.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
Cross-references
- Judges 11:29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, then through Mizpah of Gilead. And from there he advanced against the Ammonites.
- Genesis 31:49 It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other.
- Judges 11:11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their leader and commander. And Jephthah repeated all his terms in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.