Necoh, also known as Pharaoh Necho II, was a prominent Egyptian ruler during the late 7th and early 6th centuries BC. He is a significant figure in the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of the Kingdom of Judah and its interactions with the surrounding empires of Egypt and Babylon.

Historical Context

Pharaoh Necho II reigned from approximately 610 to 595 BC. He was a member of the 26th Dynasty of Egypt, known as the Saite Dynasty, which sought to restore Egypt's power and influence after a period of Assyrian domination. Necho is noted for his military campaigns and efforts to expand Egyptian influence into the Near East.

Biblical References

Necho's most notable appearance in the Bible is in the context of his military campaign against the Babylonians, which brought him into conflict with the Kingdom of Judah. The Bible records that Necho marched to the Euphrates River to assist the Assyrians against the rising power of Babylon. This campaign is detailed in 2 Kings 23:29-30 and 2 Chronicles 35:20-24.

In 2 Kings 23:29-30 , it is written: "While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to confront him, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo. From Megiddo, his servants carried his body in a chariot, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb."

Similarly, 2 Chronicles 35:20-24 provides additional details: "After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to confront him. But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, 'What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty, and God has told me to hurry. So stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you.' Nevertheless, Josiah did not turn away from him; instead, he disguised himself to fight against Necho. He did not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command, but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo. There the archers shot King Josiah, who said to his servants, 'Take me away, for I am badly wounded.' So his servants took him out of his chariot, put him in his second chariot, and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his fathers, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah."

Impact on Judah

The death of King Josiah at the hands of Necho had significant repercussions for the Kingdom of Judah. Josiah was a reforming king who had sought to restore the worship of Yahweh and eliminate idolatry. His untimely death led to a period of instability and decline in Judah, eventually culminating in the Babylonian conquest and exile.

Following Josiah's death, Necho exerted influence over Judah by installing Jehoahaz as king. However, after only three months, Necho deposed Jehoahaz and replaced him with Eliakim, whom he renamed Jehoiakim. This act is recorded in 2 Kings 23:34 : "Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt, where he died."

Legacy

Pharaoh Necho II's interactions with Judah are a testament to the geopolitical dynamics of the ancient Near East, where the ambitions of empires often intersected with the fate of smaller kingdoms. His role in the death of Josiah and the subsequent political changes in Judah highlight the vulnerability of the kingdom during this tumultuous period. Necho's actions set the stage for the eventual Babylonian dominance over Judah, leading to the exile that profoundly shaped Jewish history and theology.

Appendix ii.
... Appendix II. NECOH'S CAMPAIGN (PP.162, 163). In addition to the accounts
in the Books of Kings and Chronicles of Pharaoh Necoh's ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/appendix ii.htm

From Megiddo to Carchemish, 608-605.
... The year was 608 BC Medes and Chaldeans together had either taken, or were still
besieging, Nineveh; and Pharaoh Necoh,(303) eager to win for Egypt a share of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 from megiddo to carchemish.htm

Index of Names and Subjects.
... Nebuchadrezzar, 110, 126, 175, 292, etc. Nebusaradan, 235, 291, 292. Necoh, 163,
175, 384. Nineveh, Fall of, 162, 163, 175, 383. Nineveh, 175. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/index of names and subjects.htm

Footnotes
... For other records of Necoh's northward march see Appendix II. 307 The idea that
Josiah fought Necoh, as an Assyrian vassal (Benzinger on II. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/footnotes.htm

The Man and the Book.
... Pharaoh Necoh who had marched north to the Euphrates was defeated in a battle
for empire by Nebuchadrezzar, son of the King of Babylon. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/lecture i the man and.htm

Necoh (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Necoh (4 Occurrences). 2 Kings 23:29 In his days
Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt went up against the king of ...
/n/necoh.htm - 7k

Pharaoh-necoh (3 Occurrences)
Pharaoh-necoh. Pharaohnecoh, Pharaoh-necoh. Pharaoh's . Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia PHARAOH-NECOH. ne'-ko (par`oh ...
/p/pharaoh-necoh.htm - 12k

Pharaohnecoh
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia PHARAOH-NECOH. ne ... people. Necoh marched
northward, captured Kadesh, and pressed on to the Euphrates. ...
/p/pharaohnecoh.htm - 11k

Neco (9 Occurrences)
... all the Bible lands. See PHARAOH-NECOH. Multi-Version Concordance Neco (9
Occurrences). 2 Kings 23:29 In his days Pharaoh Necoh king ...
/n/neco.htm - 11k

Phrat (17 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 23:29 In his days Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt went up against the king of
Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and Pharaoh ...
/p/phrat.htm - 11k

Megiddo (13 Occurrences)
... At Megiddo, Josiah, king of Judah, attempted to arrest Pharaoh-necoh and his army
on their march to the Euphrates against the king of Assyria. ...
/m/megiddo.htm - 16k

Nebuchadrezzar (31 Occurrences)
... BC At any rate, he was at the head of the army which defeated Pharaoh-necoh at
Carchemish on the Euphrates in 605 BC (see 2 Kings 23:31 2 Chronicles 35:20;). ...
/n/nebuchadrezzar.htm - 29k

Jehoiakim (37 Occurrences)
... je-hoi'-a-kim (yehoyaqim, "Yahweh will establish"; Ioakeim): The name given him
by Pharaoh-necoh, who raised him to the throne as vassal king in place of his ...
/j/jehoiakim.htm - 33k

Zarakes
... 1:38, Joakim apparently apprehended his brother, Zarakes, and brought him up out
of Egypt, whither he must have been previously taken by Necoh, whereas 2 Kings ...
/z/zarakes.htm - 7k

Josi'ah (50 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 23:29 In his days Pharaoh-necoh king of Egypt went up against the king of
Assyria to the river Euphrates; and king Josiah went against him; and he slew ...
/j/josi'ah.htm - 21k

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