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The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Exodus 14:2

"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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Baal-Zephon;   Israel;   Migdol;   Pi-Hahiroth;   Red Sea;   Thompson Chain Reference - Migdol;   Red Sea;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Desert, Journey of Israel through the;   Idolatry;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Baal-Zephon;   Exodus;   Migdol;   Pihahiroth;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Baal-Zephon;   Etham;   Migdol;   Pi-Hahiroth;   Red Sea;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Etham;   Migdol;   Pihahiroth;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Baal-Zephon;   Exodus, Book of;   Pihahiroth;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Baal-Zephon;   Exodus;   Migdol;   Moses;   Pi-Hahiroth;   Red Sea;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Baalzephon ;   Migdol ;   Pihahiroth ;   Wanderings of the Israelites;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Baal-zephon;   Migdol;   Pihahiroth;   Tower;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Baal;   Migdol;   Ouches;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Mig'dol;   Pi-Hahi'roth,;   Red Sea;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Sea;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Migdol;   Red Sea;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Exodus, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Baal-Zephon;   Egypt;   Exodus, the;   Exodus, the Book of;   Migdol;   Moses;   Pi-Hahiroth;   Red Sea;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Baal-zephon;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Baal-Zephon;   Exodus;   Pi-Hahiroth;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for March 20;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
"Speak to the children of Yisra'el, that they turn back and encamp before Pi-Hachirot, between Migdol and the sea, before Ba`al-Tzefon. You shall encamp opposite it by the sea.
King James Version
Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.
Lexham English Bible
"Speak to the Israelites so that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; before Baal Zephon, which is opposite it, you will camp by the sea.
New Century Version
"Tell the Israelites to turn back to Pi Hahiroth and to camp between Migdol and the Red Sea. Camp across from Baal Zephon, on the shore of the sea.
New English Translation
"Tell the Israelites that they must turn and camp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you are to camp by the sea before Baal Zephon opposite it.
Amplified Bible
"Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. You shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea.
New American Standard Bible
"Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Speake to the children of Israel, that they returne and campe before Pi-hahiroth, betweene Migdol & the Sea, ouer against Baal-zephon: about it shal ye campe by the Sea.
Legacy Standard Bible
"Speak to the sons of Israel so that they turn back and camp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea.
Contemporary English Version
Tell the people of Israel to turn back and camp across from Pi-Hahiroth near Baal-Zephon, between Migdol and the Red Sea.
Complete Jewish Bible
"Tell the people of Isra'el to turn around and set up camp in front of Pi-Hachirot, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Ba‘al-Tz'fon; camp opposite it, by the sea.
Darby Translation
Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea: before Baal-Zephon, opposite to it, shall ye encamp by the sea.
Easy-to-Read Version
"Tell the people to go back to Pi Hahiroth. Tell them to spend the night between Migdol and the Red Sea, near Baal Zephon.
English Standard Version
"Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea.
George Lamsa Translation
Speak to the children of Israel that they turn back and encamp by the inlet of Kheritha, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; opposite it shall you encamp by the sea.
Good News Translation
"Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp in front of Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the Red Sea, near Baal Zephon.
Christian Standard Bible®
“Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you must camp in front of Baal-zephon, facing it by the sea.
Literal Translation
Speak to the sons of Israel, and let them return and camp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon. You shall camp opposite it , by the sea.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Speake vnto the children of Israel, and byd them that they turne aboute, & pitch their tentes before the valley of Hyroth, betwixte Migdol & the see towarde Baal Zepho, and there pitch ye tentes right ouer by the see.
American Standard Version
Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon: over against it shall ye encamp by the sea.
Bible in Basic English
Give orders to the children of Israel to go back and put up their tents before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon, opposite to which you are to put up your tents by the sea.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Speake to the chyldre of Israel, that they turne & pitch their tentes before Pi-hahiroth betweene Migdol and the sea, ouer agaynst Baal-sephon, and before that shall they pitche by the sea.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
'Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon, over against it shall ye encamp by the sea.
King James Version (1611)
Speake vnto the children of Israel, that they turne and encampe before Pi-hahiroth, betweene Migdol and the sea, ouer against Baal-Zephon: before it shall ye encampe by the sea.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Speak to the children of Israel, and let them turn and encamp before the village, between Magdol and the sea, opposite Beel-sepphon: before them shalt thou encamp by the sea.
English Revised Version
Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon: over against it shall ye encamp by the sea.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
turne thei ayen, and sette thei tentis euene ayens Fiayroth, which is bitwixe Magdalum and the see, ayens Beelsefon; in the siyt therof ye schulen sette tentis ouer the see.
Young's Literal Translation
`Speak unto the sons of Israel, and they turn back and encamp before Pi-Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-Zephon; over-against it ye do encamp by the sea,
Update Bible Version
Speak to the sons of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon: across from it you shall encamp by the sea.
Webster's Bible Translation
Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.
World English Bible
"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.
New King James Version
"Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea.
New Living Translation
"Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon.
New Life Bible
"Tell the people of Israel to turn around and set up their tents in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. Set up your tents in front of Baal-zephon, beside the sea.
New Revised Standard
Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall camp opposite it, by the sea.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Speak unto the sons of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, - before Baal-zephon, over against it, shall ye encamp, by the sea.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Speak to the children of Israel: Let them turn and encamp over against Phihahiroth, which is between Magdal and the sea over against Beelsephon: you shall encamp before it upon the sea.
Revised Standard Version
"Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-ha-hi'roth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Ba'al-ze'phon; you shall encamp over against it, by the sea.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea.

Contextual Overview

1Then the LORD said to Moses, 2"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.3For Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, 'They are wandering the land in confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in.' 4And I will harden Pharaoh's heart so that he will pursue them. But I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." So this is what the Israelites did. 5When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, "What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us." 6So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him. 7He took 600 of the best chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out with fists raised in defiance. 9The Egyptians-all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, horsemen and troops-pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

that they: Exodus 14:9, Exodus 13:17, Exodus 13:18, Numbers 33:7, Numbers 33:8

Pi-hahiroth: Pi̇hachiroth, "the mouth of Chiroth," as it is rendered by the LXX. Dr. Shaw is of opinion, that Chiroth denotes the valley which extends from the wilderness of Etham to the Red Sea. "This valley," he observes, "ends at the sea in a small bay made by the eastern extremities of the mountains (of Gewoubee and Attackah, between which the valley lies) which I have been describing, and is called Tiah-Beni-Israel, i.e., the road of the Israelites, by a tradition that is still kept up by the Arabs, of their having passed through it; so it is also called Baideah, from the new and unheard of miracle that was wrought near it, by dividing the Red sea, and destroying therein Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen."

Migdol: The word Migdol signifies a tower, and hence some have supposed that it was a fortress which served to defend the bay. But the LXX render it בדהשכןע, Magdolus, which is mentioned by Herodotus, Hecateus, and others, and is expressly said by Stephanus (de Urb.) to be נןכיע ידץנפןם, "a city of Egypt." This Bochart conjectures to have been the same as Migdol - see the parallel passages. Jeremiah 44:1, Jeremiah 46:14, Ezekiel 29:10, Heb

Baalzephon: This may have been the name of a town or city in which Baal was worshipped; and probably called zephon, from being situated on the north point of the Red sea, near the present Suez.

Reciprocal: 1 Corinthians 1:25 - the foolishness

Cross-References

Genesis 10:19
and the borders of Canaan extended from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
Genesis 13:10
And Lot looked out and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan, all the way to Zoar, was well watered like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
Genesis 14:9
against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar-four kings against five.
Genesis 14:10
Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country.
Genesis 14:20
and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.
Deuteronomy 29:23
All its soil will be a burning waste of brimstone and salt, unsown and unproductive, with no plant growing on it, just like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His fierce anger.
Deuteronomy 34:3
the Negev, and the region from the Valley of Jericho (the City of Palms) all the way to Zoar.
1 Samuel 13:18
another toward Beth-horon, and the third down the border road overlooking the Valley of Zeboim facing the wilderness.
Nehemiah 11:34
Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
Isaiah 15:5
My heart cries out over Moab; her fugitives flee as far as Zoar, as far as Eglath-shelishiyah; with weeping they ascend the slope of Luhith; they lament their destruction on the road to Horonaim.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn,.... Not return to Egypt, or to the place, or towards the place from whence they came, but turn off, out of the road in which they were; for, as a late traveller says a,

"there were two roads, through which the Israelites might have been conducted from Cairo (which he supposes may be Rameses) to Pihahiroth. One of them lies through the valleys, as they are now called, of Jendily, Rumaleah, and Baideah, bounded on each side by the mountains of the lower Thebais; the other lies higher, having the northern range of these mountains (the mountains of Mocattee) running parallel with it on the right hand, and the desert of the Egyptian Arabia, which lies all the way open to the land of the Philistines, on the left, (see Exodus 13:17) about the middle of this range we may turn short on our right hand into the valley of Baideah, through a remarkable breach or discontinuation, in which we afterwards continued to the very banks of the Red sea; this road then, through the valley of Baideah, which is some hours longer than the other open road, which leads directly from Cairo to Suez, was in all probability the very road which the Israelites took to Pihahiroth, on the banks of the Red sea.''

And again he says b, this valley ends at the sea in a small bay, made by the eastern extremities of the mountains, and is called "Tiah beni Israel", i.e. the road of the Israelites, from a tradition of the Arabs, of their having passed through it; as it is also called Baideah from the new and unheard of miracle that was wrought near it, by dividing the Red sea, and destroying therein Pharaoh, his chariots and horsemen:

and encamp before Pihahiroth: which was sixteen miles from Etham c, and by some d thought to be the same with the city of Heroes (or Heroopolis), on the extreme part of the Arabic gulf, or the Phagroriopolis, placed by Strabo e near the same place: according to the above traveller f, Pihahiroth was the mouth, or the most advanced part of the valley of Baideah to the eastward toward the Red sea; with which Jarchi in some measure agrees, who says Pihahiroth is Pithom, now so called, because the Israelites became free: they (Hahiroth) are two rocks, and the valley between them is called (Pi) the mouth of the rocks: so Dr. Shaw observes g; the word may be deduced from חר, "a hole" or "gullet", and by a latitude common in those cases, be rendered a narrow "defile", road or passage, such as the valley of Baideah has been described: but as the Israelites were properly delivered at this place from their captivity and fear of the Egyptians, Exodus 14:13 we may rather suppose that Hhiroth denotes the place where they were restored to their liberty; as Hhorar and Hhiroth are words of the like sort in the Chaldee: but another very learned man h says, that in the Egyptian language Pihahiroth signifies a place where grew great plenty of grass and herbs, and was contiguous to the Red sea, and was like that on the other shore of the sea, the Arabian, which Diodorus Siculus i speaks of as a pleasant green field:

between Migdol and the sea; which signifies a tower, and might be one: there was a city of this name in Egypt, and in those parts, but whether the same with this is not certain, Jeremiah 44:1

over against Baalzephon; which the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem take to be an "idol": and so does Jarchi, and say it was the only one left of the idols of Egypt; see Exodus 12:12 and so some Christian as well as Jewish writers suppose it to be; and that it was as a watch, or guard, or amulet, to keep fugitives from going out of the land: but by Ezekiel the tragedian k it is called a city; and so by Josephus l, who says they came to Baalzephon the third day, a place situated by the Red sea; which is most likely, and it is highly probable that this and Migdol were two fortified places, which guarded the mouth of the valley, or the straits which led to the Red sea: Artapanus m the Heathen historian agrees with Josephus in saying it was the third day when they came to the Red sea:

before it shall ye encamp by the sea; and there wait till Pharaoh came up to them.

a Dr. Shaw's Travels, p. 307. Ed. 2. b lb. p. 309. c Bunting's Travels, p. 82. d See the Universal History, vol. 3. p. 387. e Geograph. l. 17. p. 553. f Shaw, ib. p. 310. g Ut supra. (a) h Jablonski de Terra Goshen, Dissert. 5. sect. 9. i Bibliothec. c. 3. p. 175. k Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 29. p. 444. l Antiqu. l. 2. c. 15. sect. 1. m Apud Euseb. ib. c. 27. p. 436.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That they turn - i. e. away from the wilderness, and go southwards, to the west of the Bitter Lakes, which completely separated them from the desert.

Pi-hahiroth - The place is generally identified with Ajrud, a fortress with a very large well of good water, situated at the foot of an elevation commanding the plain which extends to Suez, at a distance of four leagues. The journey from Etham might occupy two, or even three days.

Migdol - A tower, or fort, the “Maktal” of Egyptian monuments; it is probably to be identified with Bir Suweis, about two miles from Suez.

Baal-zephon - The name under which the Phoenicians, who had a settlement in Lower Egypt at a very ancient period, worshipped their chief Deity. There can be no doubt it was near Kolsum, or Suez. From the text it is clear that the encampment of the Israelites extended over the plain from Pi-hahiroth: their headquarters being between Bir Suweis and the sea opposite to Baal-Zephon. At Ajrud the road branches off in two directions, one leading to the wilderness by a tract, now dry, but in the time of Moses probably impassable (see next note); the other leading to Suez, which was doubtless followed by the Israelites.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Exodus 14:2. Encamp before Pi-hahiroth — פי ההירת pi hachiroth, the mouth, strait, or bay of Chiroth. Between Migdol, מגדל migdol, the tower, probably a fortress that served to defend the bay. Over against Baal-zephon, בעל צפן baal tsephon, the lord or master of the watch, probably an idol temple, where a continual guard, watch, or light was kept up for the defence of one part of the haven, or as a guide to ships. Dr. Shaw thinks that chiroth may denote the valley which extended itself from the wilderness of Etham to the Red Sea, and that the part in which the Israelites encamped was called Pi-hachiroth, i.e., the mouth or bay of Chiroth. See his Travels, p. 310, and his account at the end of Exodus.


 
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