Lexical Summary Paroh Neko or Paroh Nekoh: Pharaoh Neco Original Word: פַרְעֹה נְכֹה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Paroh-Nekoh or, an Egyptian kingOr Parpoh Nkow {par-o' nek-o'}; of Egyptian derivation; Paroh-Nekoh (or -Neko), an Egyptian king: NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Paroh and Neko Definition an Eg. king NASB Translation Pharaoh Neco (5). Topical Lexicon Identity and Chronological Setting Pharaoh Neco (also spelled Neco II) ruled Egypt’s Twenty-Sixth (Saïte) Dynasty from about 610–595 BC. His reign overlaps the final decades of the Kingdom of Judah, immediately before the Babylonian exile. The Scriptural record therefore presents him as a pivotal foreign monarch through whom the Lord worked to accomplish judgment and to shift the balance of Near-Eastern power. Biblical Appearances The name occurs five times in the Hebrew text: 2 Kings 23:29, 2 Kings 23:33, 2 Kings 23:34, 2 Kings 23:35, Jeremiah 46:2. These passages collectively portray three decisive moments: 1. The death of King Josiah at Megiddo. Selected quotations: Military Campaigns and Geopolitical Role Neco attempted to shore up the fading Assyrian Empire against Babylonian expansion. His army’s northward march invited confrontation with Josiah, who sought to protect Judah’s independence and perhaps to honor covenant obligations described in Deuteronomy. The encounter ended in Josiah’s death, signaling the beginning of Judah’s rapid decline. Neco’s subsequent victory at Megiddo did not guarantee Egyptian supremacy; within a few years Nebuchadnezzar crushed Neco at Carchemish (Jeremiah 46:2), marking Babylon’s rise and Egypt’s retreat. Dealings with Judah’s Kings After Megiddo, Neco exercised direct influence over Judah: This political rearrangement fulfilled earlier warnings that disobedience would place Judah under foreign yokes (Deuteronomy 28:47–48). It also set the stage for Babylon’s later siege, for Jehoiakim would switch allegiances and provoke Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:1). Prophetic Significance Jeremiah proclaimed judgment on Egypt in Jeremiah 46. The prophecy specifically targets “Pharaoh Neco” and foretells Egypt’s defeat, portraying the LORD as the ultimate commander of international events. The fulfillment at Carchemish affirmed both the authority of divine revelation and the certainty of covenant curses when nations oppose God’s purposes. Spiritual and Ministry Insights 1. God’s Sovereignty Over Nations: The rise and fall of Egypt and Babylon demonstrate that earthly powers are subordinate to the LORD’s redemptive plan. Archaeological Corroboration Inscriptions such as the Babylonian Chronicles confirm a Pharaoh’s defeat at Carchemish in 605 BC. Although these extra-biblical records do not name Neco explicitly, they align with the biblical timetable, reinforcing the historical reliability of the narrative. Legacy in Redemptive History Pharaoh Neco stands as an instrument through whom the Lord accelerated Judah’s path toward exile and, ultimately, toward the promised restoration that would culminate in the Messiah. His brief prominence reminds readers that every monarch, however powerful, serves a role within God’s overarching design to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Forms and Transliterations נְכֹ֜ה נְכֹ֤ה נְכֹ֧ה נְכֹֽה׃ נְכוֹ֙ נכה נכה׃ נכו nə·ḵōh nə·ḵōw neCho neChoh nəḵōh nəḵōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 23:29 HEB: עָלָה֩ פַרְעֹ֨ה נְכֹ֧ה מֶֽלֶךְ־ מִצְרַ֛יִם NAS: In his days Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt KJV: In his days Pharaohnechoh king INT: his days went Pharaoh king of Egypt 2 Kings 23:33 2 Kings 23:34 2 Kings 23:35 Jeremiah 46:2 5 Occurrences |
    |