A place near the Red Sea where the Israelites camped
Migdol
Named in 6 verses across 4 books, first in Exodus 14:2.
מִגְדֹּלMigdol
The name means “a tower.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Migdol Written by AI
Migdol is mentioned in the Bible as a place near the Red Sea where the Israelites camped during their Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 14:2; Numbers 33:7). The name Migdol is derived from the Hebrew word "migdal," meaning "tower" or "fortress." It is believed to be a reference to a fortified border city in ancient Egypt. In the prophetic books, Migdol is mentioned as one of the cities in Egypt where Jewish refugees settled after the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 44:1). The prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel also include Migdol in their prophecies against Egypt, indicating that it was a significant city (Jeremiah 46:14; Ezk.29.10; 30:6). The exact location of the biblical Migdol is uncertain, but it is thought to be in the eastern Nile Delta region, possibly near the present-day Suez Canal. Some scholars have proposed that it might be identified with the ancient Egyptian city of "Tjeku" or "Tjel," known in Greek as "Sile," which served as a frontier fortress on the eastern border of Egypt.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
Tower. (1.) A strongly-fortified place 12 miles from Pelusium, in the north of Egypt (Jer. 44:1; 46:14). This word is rendered “tower” in Ezek. 29:10, but the margin correctly retains the name Migdol, “from Migdol to Syene;” i.e., from Migdol in the north to Syene in the south, in other words, the whole of Egypt.
(2.) A place mentioned in the passage of the Red Sea (Ex. 14:2; Num. 33:7, 8). It is probably to be identified with Bir Suweis, about 2 miles from Suez.
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
30.020, 32.372 See it on a map
Where the Bible names it
- 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.
- Numbers 33:7
They set out from Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon, and they camped near Migdol.
- Jeremiah 44:1
This is the word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in the land of Egypt—in Migdol, Tahpanhes, and Memphis—and in the land of Pathros:
- Jeremiah 46:14
“Announce it in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol; proclaim it in Memphis and Tahpanhes: ‘Take your positions and prepare yourself, for the sword devours those around you.’
- Ezekiel 29:10
therefore I am against you and against your rivers. I will turn the land of Egypt into a ruin, a desolate wasteland from Migdol to Syene, and as far as the border of Cush.
- Ezekiel 30:6
For this is what the LORD says: The allies of Egypt will fall, and her proud strength will collapse. From Migdol to Syene they will fall by the sword within her, declares the Lord GOD.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.