Numbers 33:7

7 from thence they went forth, and came against Pihahiroth, which beholdeth Baalzephon, and setted tents before Migdol. (and they went forth from Etham, and turned back near Pihahiroth, east of Baalzephon, and pitched their tents near Migdol.)

Numbers 33:7 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 33:7

And they removed from Etham, and turned again to Pihahiroth,
&c.] Which was sixteen miles from Etham. This turning, Aben Ezra says, respects the cloud, or Israel; and indeed it may respect both, for, as the cloud turned, Israel turned, being directed by it; and this does not mean that they had been at Pihahiroth before, and now returned to it again; but that they by direction turned out of the straight way in which they were to go to Pihahiroth; for the word "again" may as well, or better, be left out, (See Gill on Exodus 14:2):

which is before Baalzephon;
the name of an idol, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem, supposed to be placed here, to watch and guard the passage, as Zephon signifies:

and they pitched before Migdol:
which was either the name of a city, the same with Migdol, ( Jeremiah 44:1 ) or it was a tower, as the word signifies, placed here on the borders of the land, for the defence of it.

Numbers 33:7 In-Context

5 The sons of Israel (first) setted tents in Succoth, (The Israelites first pitched their tents at Succoth,)

6 and from Succoth they came into Etham, which is in the last coasts of the wilderness; (and from Succoth they went to Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness;)

7 from thence they went forth, and came against Pihahiroth, which beholdeth Baalzephon, and setted tents before Migdol. (and they went forth from Etham, and turned back near Pihahiroth, east of Baalzephon, and pitched their tents near Migdol.)

8 And they went forth from Pihahiroth, and they passed through the midst of the sea into wilderness, and they went three days by the desert of Etham, and setted tents in Marah. (And they went forth from Pihahiroth, and they passed through the midst of the Red Sea to the wilderness, and went for three days in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched their tents at Marah.)

9 And they went forth from Marah, and came into Elim, where (there) were twelve wells of water, and seventy palm trees; and there they setted tents (and they pitched their tents at Elim).