And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.

JUDGES 21:8KJV
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Judges 21:8 (KJV)

What does Judges 21:8 mean?

Judges 21:8 describes how the Israelites asked which tribe had not joined them at Mizpeh to meet before the LORD, and they discovered that no one from Jabeshgilead had come to the assembly. This verse sets up the next actions the Israelites will take in response to Jabeshgilead’s absence.

The setting is after a civil war between the tribes of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. The leaders of Israel are speaking among themselves, trying to solve the problem of how to provide wives for the surviving Benjamite men. They realize that the people of Jabeshgilead did not participate in the earlier gathering at Mizpeh, which was a meeting before God to address the crisis.

The Hebrew behind Judges 21:8

  • מִזְפֶּה (Mizpeh, H4709): This word means "watchtower" or "lookout," and here it refers to the specific place where the Israelites gathered before the LORD. The mention of Mizpeh highlights that this was a significant, solemn assembly.
  • קָהָל (qahal, H6951): This word means "assembly" or "congregation." Its use here emphasizes that the gathering was not just a casual meeting but a formal, communal event involving all the tribes.

Why Judges 21:8 matters

  • This verse explains how the Israelites identified Jabeshgilead as absent, which becomes crucial for their controversial decision in the following verses.
  • By noting who did not come to the assembly, the verse shows the seriousness with which the Israelites viewed participation in national and religious matters.
  • The verse connects to the wider story by showing the lengths the Israelites went to in order to solve the crisis with the tribe of Benjamin, revealing both the unity and the tensions among the tribes.

Where else these words appear

“Jabeshgilead” Hebrew H3003 · used in 21 verses

  • Judges 21:9 For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there.
  • 1 Samuel 11:5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
  • 2 Samuel 2:5 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.

“Mizpeh” Hebrew H4709 · used in 31 verses

  • Genesis 31:49 And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
  • 1 Samuel 7:11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
  • Nehemiah 3:19 And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to the armoury at the turning of the wall.

“assembly” Hebrew H6951 · used in 116 verses

  • Genesis 28:3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
  • 1 Kings 8:55 And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying,
  • Nehemiah 7:66 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,

“Jabeshgilead” Hebrew H1568 · used in 123 verses

  • Genesis 31:21 So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.
  • Judges 10:17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
  • 2 Kings 9:4 So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramothgilead.