The Egyptian kings, often referred to as Pharaohs, play a significant role in the biblical narrative, particularly in the Old Testament. These rulers are depicted as both adversaries and instruments in God's divine plan, showcasing His sovereignty over nations and kings.

Pharaohs in the Time of Abraham

The first mention of an Egyptian king in the Bible occurs during the time of Abraham. In Genesis 12:10-20, Abraham and Sarah journey to Egypt due to a famine in Canaan. Fearing for his life because of Sarah's beauty, Abraham instructs her to say she is his sister. Pharaoh takes Sarah into his palace, but God afflicts Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues. Upon discovering the truth, Pharaoh rebukes Abraham and sends him away with his wife and possessions. This account highlights God's protection over His chosen people and His ability to influence even the most powerful rulers.

Pharaohs in the Time of Joseph

The narrative of Joseph, found in Genesis 37-50, provides a more detailed interaction with Egyptian royalty. Sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph eventually rises to prominence in Egypt, becoming second only to Pharaoh. In Genesis 41:39-41 , Pharaoh acknowledges Joseph's wisdom, saying, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." Joseph's relationship with Pharaoh demonstrates God's providence and His ability to use foreign rulers to fulfill His purposes, such as preserving the lineage of Israel during a severe famine.

Pharaohs in the Time of Moses

The most prominent Egyptian king in the Bible is the Pharaoh of the Exodus. The book of Exodus details the oppression of the Israelites under Egyptian bondage and God's deliverance through Moses. In Exodus 5:1-2 , Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh, saying, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.'" Pharaoh's hardened heart and refusal to release the Israelites lead to a series of devastating plagues, culminating in the death of the firstborn in Egypt (Exodus 12:29-30). This Pharaoh's resistance serves to display God's power and judgment, as well as His faithfulness to His covenant with Israel.

Pharaohs in the Time of Solomon and the Divided Kingdom

During the reign of Solomon, Egypt is mentioned in the context of political alliances. Solomon marries Pharaoh's daughter, which is noted in 1 Kings 3:1 : "Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. Solomon brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem." This marriage signifies a period of peace and prosperity, although it also foreshadows Solomon's later spiritual decline due to foreign influences.

In the period of the divided kingdom, Egyptian kings continue to play a role in Israel's history. Shishak, identified as Pharaoh Shoshenq I, invades Judah during the reign of Rehoboam, as recorded in 1 Kings 14:25-26 : "In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. He seized the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made." This event marks a significant moment of judgment and loss for the kingdom of Judah.

Later Egyptian Kings

Throughout the prophetic books, Egypt is often mentioned as a symbol of worldly power and false security. The prophets frequently warn Israel and Judah against relying on Egypt for military support instead of trusting in the LORD. Isaiah 31:1 cautions, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the abundance of chariots and in the multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD."

In summary, the Egyptian kings in the Bible serve as both antagonists and unwitting participants in God's redemptive history. Their interactions with the people of Israel underscore themes of divine sovereignty, judgment, and the futility of relying on human power over God's provision and protection.Egyptian Kings

EGYPTIAN KINGS (LATER)

See PHARAOH; HOPHRA; NECO; SHISHAK; EGYPT, III.

5328. Pharao -- Pharaoh, an Eg. king
... Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Pharao Phonetic Spelling: (far-ah-o') Short
Definition: Pharaoh Definition: Pharaoh, the title of ancient Egyptian kings. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5328.htm - 6k6547. Paroh -- a title of Egypt kings
... Pharaoh. Of Egyptian derivation; Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings --
Pharaoh. 6546, 6547. Paroh. 6548 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6547.htm - 5k

List of Characters and Places
... Rameses,"Ram'-e-seez, a popular name for Egyptian kings; the name of Meneptah's
older son and also the name of Meneptah's father, the Incomparable Pharaoh. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/list of characters and places.htm

Introduction
... he tells us, had pitched "their tents before Pi-Bailos" (or Belbeis) at the western
extremity of the land of Goshen, and the Egyptian "kings found themselves ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/introduction.htm

The Greek Kings of Egypt.
... Both these places were named after the Greek Kings of Syria, who were by ... killed the
murderess, carrying home much spoil and many of the Egyptian gods, which ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xvi the greek kings.htm

Egypt
... The copper for the bronze tools employed by the workmen was brought from the mines
of Sinai, where the Egyptian kings had kept an armed garrison for many ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter v egypt.htm

The Old Testament and Archeology
... The inscriptions of later Egyptian kings, during the thirteenth and the early part
of the twelfth century, throw little additional light on conditions in ...
/.../the christian view of the old testament/chapter iv the old testament.htm

The Jewish Institutions and Laws of Far Higher Antiquity than the ...
... Now this Ptolemy was a priest; and setting forth the deeds of the Egyptian kings
in three entire books, he says, that the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, under ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xxi the jewish institutions and.htm

The Jewish Dispersion in the West - the Hellenists - Origin of ...
... Now, although there were two High-Priests who bore the name Simon, and two Egyptian
kings with the surname Euergetes, yet on purely historical grounds, and ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the jewish dispersion.htm

Of the Times of Moses and Joshua the Son of Nun, of the Judges ...
... by the daughter of Pharaoh (that was the name of all the kings of Egypt ... land of Midian),
because, in defending an Israelite, he had slain an Egyptian, and was ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 43 of the times of.htm

Argument: Although the Heathens Acknowledge their Kings to be ...
... by the good-will of the Mauritanians, Juba is a god; and other kings are divine ... of
silver, often from an impure vessel, as was done by the Egyptian king, [1798 ...
/.../the octavius of minucius felix/chapter xxiii argument although the heathens.htm

Who were Kings when Moses was Born, and what Gods Began to be ...
... in Egypt, by whom the people of God were liberated from the Egyptian slavery, in ...
Some have thought that Prometheus lived during the reign of the kings now named ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 8 who were kings when.htm

What is the meaning of Zaphenath-Paneah in Genesis 41:45? | GotQuestions.org

Who was the Pharaoh of the Exodus? | GotQuestions.org

What is Atenism? Did either Judaism or Christianity borrow from Atenism? | GotQuestions.org

Egyptian: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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