he went: When he was at Bethel, the tribe of Ephraim and all the northern parts of the country could attend him; when at Gilgal, the tribe of Benjamin and those beyond Jordan could have easy access to him; and when at Mizpeh, he was within the reach of Judah, Simeon, and Gad, but at Ramah was the place of his ordinary abode; and there he held his court, for there he judged Israel, and as it is probable that Shiloh was destroyed, it is said (1 Samuel 8:17) that there, i.e., at Ramah, "he built an altar to the Lord."
in circuit: Heb. and he circuited, Judges 5:10, Judges 10:4, Judges 12:14; Psalms 75:2, Psalms 82:3-4