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The pharaohs in the Bible are those pharaohs (kings of Egypt) mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. The term covers the pharaoh of the Exodus (and his predecessors, the pharaoh who settled the Israelites in Egypt and the pharaoh of the oppression) plus a number of later rulers.

Historical pharaohs

2 Kings 19:9 and Isaiah 37:9 mention Taharqa (reigned 690-664 BC) as the opponent of Sennacherib of Assyria. He is called King of Ethiopia, and hence is not given the title pharaoh which he bears in Egyptian documents.

2 Kings 23:29 sqq. and 2 Chronicles 35:20 sqq. mention the 26th dynasty pharaoh Necho II (610-595 BCE), responsible for the death of Josiah, and Jeremiah 44:30 mentions his successor Apries or Hophra (589-570 BC).

Conjectural pharaohs

1 Kings 11:40 and 2 Chronicles 12:2 sqq. tell of an invasion of Palestine by Shishak (probably Sheshonk I, reigned c.943-922 BCE, the founder of the twenty-second dynasty). The title pharaoh is prefixed to his name in the Great Dakhla stela—as in Pharaoh Shoshenq—which dates to Year 5 of his reign.

2 Kings 17:4 says that king Hoshea sent letters to "So, King of Egypt". He has been identified with Osorkon IV, 732/30-716, a minor king at Tanis who ruled over a divided Egypt, with Tefnakht of Sais and Pi'ankhy.

Pharaohs in Exodus

The book of Exodus tells how the Israelites are enslaved in Egypt and eventually escape under the leadership of Moses. Three pharaohs are involved: the "pharaoh of Joseph" who invites the Israelites into Egypt, the "pharaoh of the oppression" who enslaves them, and the "pharaoh of the exodus", under whom they escape. The third pharaoh is clearly not the immediate successor the second, because the Israelite's were already enslaved by the birth of Moses, who fled to Midian at 40 years of age (Acts 7:29-30) and resided there for an additional 40 years prior to returning to Egypt (Exodus 7:7).These Scripture references show that Moses was 80 years of age when he confronted the Pharaoh after spending 40 years in Midian. The bible is not clear as to where the second pharaoh stands in relation the first in the stream of time.

The biblical story does not name any of these pharaohs, nor does it give enough information to identify the period in which the events are set, with the result that there have been many suggestions as to which of Egypt's many rulers was involved. Candidates put forward for the role include:

• Ahmose I (1550 BC-1525 BC).
• Thutmose III (1479 BC-1425 BC)
• Dudimose: David Rohl's 1995 A Test of Time attempted to correct Egyptian history by shortening the Third Intermediate Period of Egypt by almost 300 years. As a by-result the synchronisms with the biblical narrative have changed, making the 13th Dynasty pharaoh Djedneferre Dudimose (Dedumesu, Tutimaos, Tutimaios) the pharaoh of the Exodus. Rohl's theory, however, has failed to find support among scholars in his field.
• Horemheb (1319 BC-1292 BC) Ahmed Osman surmised that he was the Pharaoh of the Oppression.
• Ramesses I Surmised by Ahmed Osman to be the Pharaoh of the Exodus.
• Ramesses II (1279 BC-1213 BC) Also known as Rameses the Great, he is the most commonly imagined figure in popular culture, but there is no documentary or archaeological evidence that he had to deal with the Plagues of Egypt or anything similar or that he chased Hebrew slaves fleeing Egypt. Ramesses II's late 13th century BC stela in Beth Shan mentions two conquered peoples who came to "make obeisance to him" in his city of Raameses or Pi-Ramesses but mentions neither the building of the city nor, as some have written, the Israelites or Hapiru. Additionally, the historical Pithom was built in the 7th century BC, during the Saite period.
• Merneptah (1213 BC-1203 BC), son of Ramesses II. An inscription by this pharaoh includes the first mention of "Israel" in the historical record, clearly established in Canaan during his time.

See also

• David Rohl
• Ipuwer Papyrus
• New Chronology (Rohl)
• Shiphrah - one of two midwives who helped prevent the genocide of Hebrew children by the Egyptians, according to Exodus 1:15-21.
• Thrasyllus of Mendes

References

1. Patterson, Richard D., "The Divided Monarchy: Sources, Approaches, and Historicity", pp 196-197, in David M. Howard & Michael A. Grisanti (eds), Giving the Sense: Understanding and Using Old Testament Historical Texts, Kregel Academic & Professional, January 1, 2004, ISBN 978-0825428920
2. Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. 2 Pg. 434
3. Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. 2 pg. 435
4. Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. 2 Pg. 436
5. ^ Geoffrey W. Bromiley (ed.), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia:E-J (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing 1996 ISBN 978-0802837820 pp 233-236
6. Rohl, David (1995). "Chapter 13". A Test of Time. Arrow. pp. 341–8. ISBN 0099416565.
7. Bennett, Chris. "Temporal Fugues", Journal of Ancient and Medieval Studies XIII (1996). Available at
8. Stephen L. Caiger, "Archaeological Fact and Fancy," Biblical Archaeologist, (9, 1946).
9. I Will Show You: Essays in History and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East in Honor of J. Maxwell Miller, Sheffield Academic Press, 1997, P. 261-262, ISBN-978-1850756507,
10. Long, V. Philips (2000). Israel's past in present research: essays on ancient Israelite historiography. Eisenbrauns. p. 398. ISBN 978-1575060286. {{cite book}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)

• Torah monarchs
• History of Egypt
• Hebrew Bible