Migdol

Migdol, or migdal, is a Hebrew word (מגדּלה מגדּל, מגדּל מגדּול) which means either a tower (from its size or height), an elevated stage (a rostrum or pulpit), or a raised bed (within a river). Physically, it can mean fortified land, i.e. a walled city or castle; or elevated land, as in a raised bed, like a platform, possibly a lookout. The term for a border fort is similar, mekter, in Egyptian. Figuratively, "tower" has connotations of proud authority.

The Book of Exodus records that the children of Israel encamped at Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the Red Sea, before their historic crossing.

Joshua referred to Migdal-Gad, ‘tower of Gad’, one of the fortified cities of Judah, and also to Migdal-El, ‘tower of God’, one of the fortified towns of Naphtali (Joshua 19.38) and the city of origin of Mary Magdelene (Magdala) (Matthew 27:56; Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2 and John 20:18).

Jeremiah referred to a "Migdol" in Egypt, (Jeremiah 44:1) an island in the Nile, and Ezekiel referred to the Migdol of Syene, in Upper Egypt, in the context of the seat of government. The letters of Šuta refer to a "Magdalu in Egypt" which Albright identified with Jeremiah's Migdol. ^[1]

Migdal Ha'emek is a large hill surrounded by the Kishon river, west of Nazareth.

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