Judges 20:1

the congregation was assembled The two words at once stamp the character of source B; cf. in the Priestly Code Leviticus 8:4; Numbers 16:42; Numbers 20:2; Joshua 18:1; Joshua 22:12. The congregationJudges 21:10; Judges 21:13; Judges 21:16 (Hebr. -çdhah, LXX synagôgç) is regularly used by P, and by writers under the influence of P, to describe Israel as a religious community (e.g. Exodus 12:3; Numbers 1:2; Joshua 22:16 etc., 1 Kings 8:5; 1 Kings 12:20). Less characteristic, but frequently found in the Priestly narrative, is the assembly Judges 20:2, Judges 21:5; Judges 21:8 (Hebr. ḳâhâl, LXX usually ecclesia, sometimes synagôgç), to denote the people as an organized whole (e.g. Deuteronomy 31:30; Leviticus 16:17; Numbers 16:3; Ezra 10:12; Ezra 10:14 etc.), or as assembled for some special purpose, an invasion, or instruction, or worship.

as one man Cf. Judges 20:8; Judges 20:11; 1 Samuel 11:7; Ezra 3:1. The ancient stories in Judges give a different picture; a corporate national life was not attained till a later age.

from Dan even to Beer-sheba i.e. from North to South of Israel's territory; cf. Judges 18:7 n.and 2 Samuel 3:10; 2 Samuel 24:2, contrast 1 Chronicles 21:2 etc. To include Israel on the E. of Jordan, with the land of Gileadis added (cf. Judges 21:8).

Mizpah may be identified with the hill Nebî Samwîl, 4½ m. N.W. of Jerusalem, 2935 ft. above the sea, and about 3 m. from Tell el-Fûl (Gibeah), in the centre of the Benjamite district. A holy place occupied the summit (1 Samuel 7:5 ff; 1 Samuel 10:17-24), probably from very early times. See further Jeremiah 40:6 ff.; 1Ma 3:46. While the narrative A speaks of Mizpah as the meeting-place of the Israelites (Judges 20:3; Judges 21:1), B refers to Beth-el (Judges 20:18; Judges 20:26, Judges 21:2).