בעל צפוןBAAL-ZEPHON. The Hebrews having left Egypt, after three days march came to Baal-Zephon, where they passed Exod. xix. 2, 9.through the Sea: Baal-Zephon therefore was near Clysma or Colsum; for there the Ancients tell us, that the Hebrews passed the Red Sea. See our Dissertation on their passage, prefixed to the Book of Exodus, p. xl. and the Supplement, p. 54. It is thought Ezek. viii. 14.thought that Sephon or Zephon was an Egyptian Deity, from whom the City of Baal-Zephon took its name; but what he was we do not exactly know. Zephon in Hebrew signifies the North, or the Concealed. Adonis with respect to the Egyptians was the God of the North; for he was killed in mount Libanus, and was principally adored at Biblos in Phœnicia. He was likewise the concealed God; and the Egyptians call’d him Tammuz1, which signifies hidden; because of the celebration of his mysteries. He was kept shut up like one dead in a coffin, and afterwards, as it is pretended, revived; or because he is said to have passed six months on Earth with Venus, and six in Hell with Proserpine2. The Rabbins say, Baal- Zephon was an idol or figure covered with Stars, placed here by Pharaoh in order to stop the Hebrews, and hinder them from going out of his Country.
Some describe him in the shape of a Dog, as the Egyptians their God Anubis with a Dog’s Head; perhaps that he might have a vigilant eye over this place, and give notice by his barking of the Enemies arrival, and that he might guard the coast of the Red Sea on that side3. It is said he was placed there principally to stop all slaves that fled from their masters. The Jerusalem Targum assures us, that all the Statues of the Egyptian Gods having been destroyed by the exterminating Angel, Baal-Zephon was the only one that made resistance. Whereupon the Egyptians conceived a great idea of his power, and redoubled their devotion to him. Moses observing that the people flocked in crowds thither, petitioned Pharaoh that he too might make a journey thither with the Israelites. Pharaoh permitted them to go; but as they were employed upon the shore of the Red Sea in gathering up the precious stones which the river Phison had carried into theGihon, and from thence were conveyed into the Red Sea, whereby they had been thrown upon the dry land, Pharaoh surprized them like people destitute of counsel and out of their senses; he offered his Sacrifices to Baal-Zephon, waiting till the next day to attack the Israelites, whom he believed his God had delivered into his hands. But in the mean time they passed the Red Sea, and escaped from him, and his pretended God Baal-Zephon was not capable of rescuing him from death. These are Rabbinical Fables that deserve no credit.
M. Basnage4 is of opinion, that Baal- Zephon signifies the Sun; Zephon in Hebrew signifies one who contemplates, as much as to say the observing Deity, the Sun, the great Eye of nature, which knows, sees, and enlightens all things. The Poet Ezekiel cited in Eusebius5, believes Baal-Zephon to have been a City, and the construction in the Text Moses, is very favourable to this opinion. See hereafter Colsum.
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