The BibleGospel Companion

Baal-zephon

בַּ֫עַל צְפוֹן · ba.al tse.phon · H1189“the idol or possession of the north; hidden; secret” Hitchcock's 18693 mentions in 2 books, most in Exodus (2)

Where it is

MigdolMigdolEthamEthamPithomPithomSuccothSuccothMarahMarahShurShurBaal-zephonabout 230 km across

29.94° N, 32.40° E

Coordinates and map: OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding · CC BY 4.0 · drawn without map tiles

Mentioned most in

Exodus · 2Numbers · 1
Counted from 3 references · STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

About this place

Baal-zephon is mentioned in Exodus 14:2, 9, and Numbers 33:7 as a place near where the Israelites camped before crossing the Red Sea during their exodus from Egypt. God instructed Moses to have the people turn back and camp near Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal-zephon (Exodus 14:2). The Egyptians caught up with the Israelites as they were camped by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon (Exodus 14:9). The exact location of Baal-zephon is uncertain, but it was likely situated on the western shore of the Gulf of Suez, near the northern tip of the Red Sea. The name "Baal-zephon" means "Lord of the North" or "Baal of the North," possibly referring to a local deity worshipped by the Egyptians in that area.

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

3 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)

Exodus 2 mentions

Exodus 14:2“Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal Zephon. You shall encamp opposite it by the sea.Exodus 14:9The Egyptians pursued them. All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen, and his army overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baal Zephon.

Numbers 1 mention

Numbers 33:7They traveled from Etham, and turned back to Pihahiroth, which is before Baal Zephon, and they encamped before Migdol.

What the dictionary says

Baal of the north, an Egyptian town on the shores of the Gulf of Suez (Ex. 14:2; Num. 33:7), over against which the children of Israel encamped before they…

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
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Sources