Baal-zephon was an Egyptian location where the Israelites camped before crossing the Red Sea.
Also known as Baal Zephon
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.
Approximate location: 29.938, 32.395 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
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 crossed the Red Sea. It is probably to be identified with the modern Jebel Deraj or Kulalah, on the western shore of the Gulf of Suez. Baal-zapuna of the Egyptians was a place of worship.
the idol or possession of the north; hidden; secret
BA'AL-ZE'PHON. Ex 14:2; Num 33:7. A place near the head, or on the western shore, of the Gulf of Suez where the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. Dr. Ebers identifies it with Mount Atakah, near Suez; Dr. Brugsch, with less probability, proposes Mount Casius, on the Mediterranean, as the site of Baal-zephon. It was south of Migdol and west of Suez.
BA'AL-ZE'PHON. Ex 14:2; Num 33:7. A place near the head, or on the western shore, of the Gulf of Suez where the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. Dr. Ebers identifies it with Mount Atakah, near Suez; Dr. Brugsch, with less probability, proposes Mount Casius, on the Mediterranean, as the site of Baal-zephon. It was south of Migdol and west of Suez.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
3 verses in 2 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H1189
“Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. You are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal-zephon.
The Egyptians—all Pharaohʼs horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon.
They set out from Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon, and they camped near Migdol.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.