Easton's Bible Dictionary Perhaps another name for Khetam, or "fortress," on the Shur or great wall of Egypt, which extended from the Mediterranean to the Gulf of Suez. Here the Israelites made their third encampment (Exodus 13:20; Numbers 33:6). The camp was probably a little to the west of the modern town of Ismailia. Here the Israelites were commanded to change their route (Exodus 14:2), and "turn" towards the south, and encamp before Pi-hahiroth. (see EXODUS; PITHOM.) Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ETHAM e'-tham ('etham; Othom, Exodus 13:20; Bouthan, Numbers 33:6, 7; in 33:8 the Septuagint has a different reading, "in their wilderness" showing another pointing for the word): The name used to be explained as the Coptic Atium, "border of the Sea" (Gesenius, Lexicon, under the word) which would agree with the Hebrew (Numbers 33:8) where the "wilderness of Etham" is noticed instead of that of Shur (Exodus 15:22) East of the Red Sea (see SHUR). At Etham (Exodus 13:20), the Hebrews camped in the "edge," or at "the end," of the desert West of the sea that they were to cross (see EXODUS). This camp was probably near the North end of the Bitter Lakes, a march from Succoth. Brugsch (Hist. Egypt, II, 359) would compare Etham with the Egyptian Khetam ("fort"), but the Hebrew word has no guttural. The word Khetam is not the name of a place (see Pierret, Vocab. hieroglyph., 453), and more than one such "fort" seems to be noticed (see PITHOM). In the reign of Seti II a scribe's report mentions the pursuit of two servants, apparently from Zoan, to the fortress of I-k-u southward, reaching Khetam on the 3rd day; but if this was the "Khetam of Rameses II," or even that "of Minepthah," it would not apparently suit the position of Etham. See MIGDOL. C. R. Conder.

Multi-Version Concordance Etham (4 Occurrences) Exodus 13:20 They took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 33:6 They traveled from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 33:7 They traveled from Etham, and turned back to Pihahiroth, which is before Baal Zephon: and they encamped before Migdol. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 33:8 They traveled from before Hahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness: and they went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and encamped in Marah. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)