And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death.
The Israelites asked, 'Which of all the tribes of Israel didn't come with us to worship the LORD?' They had made a serious promise that anyone who didn't come to the LORD at Mizpeh would definitely be killed.
The Israelites had sworn a deadly oath that any tribe failing to join their sacred assembly at Mizpeh would face execution.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Judges, during a period of internal conflict and moral upheaval in ancient Israel, the tribes had gathered at Mizpeh to address a horrific crime committed by the tribe of Benjamin, which led to a civil war. The Israelites made a severe oath requiring all tribes to participate in the assembly for divine guidance and battle, with dire consequences for those who did not join. This reflects the cultural emphasis on tribal unity and the enforcement of communal oaths in a society governed by judges rather than kings.
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