The question initiates a formal investigation to identify which tribe violated the solemn oath requiring attendance at Mizpah. By asking rather than assuming, the assembly follows due process in determining accountability and preparing to enforce the vow they had taken.

The investigation revealed that no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp at Mizpah for the assembly, identifying them as the absent tribe.

The question ‘What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah?’ reflects Israel’s commitment to corporate covenant accountability in the aftermath of civil war. The Hebrew phrasing emphasizes the singular nature of the inquiry, which one tribe, suggesting they expected universal compliance with the sacred summons. The question format serves a legal function, establishing a formal investigation process rather than making assumptions. By addressing their inquiry to the Lord, they frame the absence as a spiritual matter, not merely administrative. The rhetorical structure moves from question to discovery, creating narrative tension that highlights the seriousness of covenant violation. This demonstrates that Israel understood sacred assemblies as non-optional gatherings where God’s presence demanded every tribe’s participation, and absence constituted rebellion against divine authority itself.