[Jewelry making - Article 00450] - Re: [Orchid] [Tidbits] Italian Jewish Wedding Ring

[Len and Judy Bjorkman]

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    In my experience, "Mizpah" is used in the phrase, "Mizpah
    benediction." It comes from Genesis 31:49, in which Jacob and his
    father-in-law, Laban, make a treaty with each other. 

    The Hebrew root is sade-pey-hey, meaning "to look out, spy, keep
    watch." Mizpah is the nominal form, meaning approximately, "Outlook
    point," or "watch-tower." 

    The part of the verse used as a "benediction" is (in the King James
    Version), "May the Lord watch between me and thee, when we are
    absent, one from the other." It sounds good as a benediction, but the
    modern irony is that in its ancient context, the passage is closer to
    being a threat, since Jacob has finally left Laban (whose daughters
    are Jacob's wives, and whose flocks Jacob has earned and taken) and
    is headed back to Palestine. Laban pursues them, but eventually
    realizes he cannot prevail. So he makes a treaty (covenant) with
    Jacob, using a pile of rocks as witness of the treaty, that Jacob
    always treat his wives fairly and that Jacob and Laban stay out of
    each other's territory. Laban calls the place "Galeed" and also
    "Mizpah." 

    The benediction understanding is the way that "Mizpah" is most often
    used in the Church; how the word may be used in the synagogue or
    elsewhere is beyond my experience. 

Judy Bjorkman
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