Pithom
Summary
Pithom was one of the treasure (store) cities built by Israelite slave labor for Pharaoh in Egypt, identified with archaeological sites in the eastern Nile Delta.
☩Biblical Reference
Pithom is mentioned in Exodus 1:11 as one of two store cities (along with Raamses) that the enslaved Israelites were forced to build for Pharaoh. The Hebrew text names two cities; the Septuagint adds On (Heliopolis) as a third. These cities served as storage depots for grain and provisions, likely supporting military operations and trade in the eastern Delta region.
☩Location and Identification
The name Pithom appears to be Egyptian, meaning 'house of Atum' (the sun god worshipped at Heliopolis). Herodotus mentions a town called Patumus, and the Itinerary of Antoninus records a Thoum or Thou in the same region. Archaeological sites proposed for Pithom include Tell el-Maskhuta and Tell er-Retabeh in the Wadi Tumilat, a fertile valley in the eastern Delta connecting the Nile to the ancient canal toward the Red Sea. Excavations have revealed storage chambers and evidence of brick construction consistent with the biblical account.
Related Verses1 mention
Exodus· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Pithom," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Pithom," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).