The Euphrates River, one of the most significant rivers mentioned in the Bible, serves as a geographical and historical landmark in the ancient Near East. It is often associated with the boundaries of the Promised Land and plays a crucial role in the narratives of various empires and their interactions with the people of Israel.

Pharaoh Necho II, the king of Egypt from 610 to 595 BC, is a notable figure in the biblical account concerning the Euphrates. His military campaigns are recorded in the context of the waning Assyrian Empire and the rising power of Babylon. Necho's ambition to expand Egyptian influence into the territories near the Euphrates is documented in the Scriptures, particularly in the books of Kings and Chronicles.

In 2 Kings 23:29 , it is recorded: "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 meet him, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo." This passage highlights Necho's strategic movements towards the Euphrates, indicating his involvement in the power struggles of the region. The confrontation with King Josiah of Judah at Megiddo underscores the geopolitical tensions of the time, as Necho sought to assert Egyptian dominance and support Assyria against the emerging Babylonian threat.

Further elaboration is found in 2 Chronicles 35:20-21 : "After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went 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 house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry, so stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you.'" This passage provides insight into Necho's intentions and his claim of divine mandate for his campaign. The reference to Carchemish, a significant city on the Euphrates, emphasizes the strategic importance of the region and Necho's desire to control it.

The historical context of Necho's campaign is further illuminated by the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC, where the Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar II, decisively defeated the Egyptian-Assyrian alliance. Although not directly mentioned in the Bible, this battle marked the end of Egyptian ambitions in the region and solidified Babylonian supremacy.

Pharaoh Necho's ventures to the Euphrates reflect the broader narrative of divine sovereignty and the unfolding of God's plan through the rise and fall of empires. His interactions with the kings of Judah and his military endeavors are woven into the biblical tapestry, illustrating the complex interplay of human ambition and divine providence.2 Kings 24:7
And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.
Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 46:2-10
Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.
Nave's Topical Index

The Sixth vision "On Earth"
... King Josiah was overthrown by Pharaoh-Necho, king of Egypt (2 ... and embodiment on the
banks of the Euphrates. ... of God, Nebuchadnezzar becomes the king of Babylon. ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the sixth vision on earth.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... of giving new names to those taken into the king's service (1:7 ... that he overthrew
the army of Pharaoh-necho at Carchemish on the Euphrates; for that ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

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