From the root TSAPHAH (צפה) = "to watch, observe, foresee" with the prefix Mem suggesting "from which"; in other words "a look-out", whether of the constellations or the local geography, or most probably both.
Genesis 31:49 names it as the place where Ya'akov and Lavan signed their pact; also called Gal-Ed (גלעד) = "the circle of witness", or Gil'ad (Gilead in English), and Yegar Sahaduta (יגר שהדותא), which in Aramaic means "Cairn of Witness". Clearly one of the most ancient sacred places of Yisra-El, it later became the central covenant shrine of the prophet Shemu-El (Samuel). Given that it is in the territory of Gad, and that Gad is clearly linked to the goat-god, we can deduce that it was a shrine of the Kena'ani (Canaanite) equivalent of the worship of Dionysus or Pan. There were, logically enough, several places that bore the name Mitspeh, of which this appears to have been the principal.
Joshua 11:8 locates it in the mountains of Levanon.
Joshua 15:38 finds it in the plain country of Yehudah.
Joshua 18:26 places it in Bin-Yamin.
Judges 10:17 names it as the place where the Beney Yisra-El grouped their forces under Yiphtach (Jephthah) of the Beney Gil'ad to fight the Beney Amon (11:11 and 34).
Judges 11:22 finds it in Gad.
Judges 11:29 names it Mitspeh-Gil'ad.
Judges 21:1 is unclear whether this is the same Mitspeh as chapter 11, or another in the territory of Bin-Yamin.
1 Samuel 7:5 identifies it as the place where Shemu-El called the nation together, but does not specify which Mitspeh.
1 Samuel 22:3 does though; it place it in Mo-Av, but in such a way that it makes clear this is not the Mitspeh of 1 Samuel 7:5.
1 Kings 15:22 describes it being fortified by King Asa, and clearly places it in Bin-Yamin (see also 2 Chronicles 16:6).
Innumerable other references include Hosea 5:1, Jeremiah 40:6; Nehemiah 3:7/19; Joshua 18:26; Isaiah 21:8 et al,
Should it be pronounced Mitspah or Mitspeh? Probably both, in the way that I might have written "probably neither" (plow or plough? skon or scone?) Note that it is sometimes rendered with, sometimes without, the definite article - Ha Mitspeh.
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