KING OF EGYPT · TWO KINGDOMS

Pharaoh Necho. He killed Josiah at Megiddo, made and unmade Judah's kings, and lost at Carchemish.

REIGNEDi

Not given c. 610–595 BC (dates vary)

CAPITAL

Not stated

HOUSE

Not stated 8th of 9 in Egypt

SCRIPTURE SAYS

“In his days Pharaoh-nechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and…”

PROPHETS

Jeremiah

EGYPT: 9 RULERS PHARAOH OF JOSEPH'S DAY → HOPHRA

ON THE WORLD STAGE

The powers of the day

JUDAH

Josiah · Jehoahaz · Jehoiakim

ASSYRIA

BABYLON

Nebuchadnezzar

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · WRITTEN ABOUT 430 BC

Herodotus on Necos

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · WRITTEN ABOUT 430 BC

Herodotus on the voyage round Libya

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · 609 BC

Babylonian chronicle of the fall of Nineveh

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · 605 BC

Babylonian Chronicle 5: Carchemish

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · 601 BC

Babylonian Chronicle 5: the clash of 601 BC

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · NECHO'S 16TH YEAR

A Serapeum stela of his sixteenth year

SUCCESSION

Before and after

THE REALM

The places Scripture names

Egypt. Only places Scripture names are shown, each where the Atlas puts it.

WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS

What Scripture says of him

  • "In his days Pharaoh-nechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him." 2 Kings 23:29
  • Chronicles gives his message to Josiah: "What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste". 2 Chronicles 35:21
  • Chronicles says Josiah "hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God". 2 Chronicles 35:22
  • He bound Jehoahaz at Riblah, fined the land a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold, made Eliakim king and "turned his name to Jehoiakim". 2 Kings 23:33–34
  • Jeremiah: "the army of Pharaoh-necho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim". Jeremiah 46:2
  • "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 unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt." 2 Kings 24:7

DEALINGS

Dealings with God's people

  • Necho claimed a command from God; Chronicles calls his words "from the mouth of God". 2 Chronicles 35:21–22
  • Judah became Egypt's tributary under a king Necho chose: "Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh". 2 Kings 23:35
  • Jehoiakim "taxed the land ... of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaoh-nechoh". 2 Kings 23:35
  • "All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah." 2 Chronicles 35:24

EVENTS

Wars, works and turning points

UNDATED IN SCRIPTURE

PROPHETS

The prophets who spoke about him

  • Je Jeremiah “They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed.”

TWO ACCOUNTS

Where the accounts differ

Why he marched

2 KINGS

2 CHRONICLES

How Josiah died

2 KINGS

2 CHRONICLES

Where Jehoahaz was deposed

2 KINGS

2 CHRONICLES

DATES DIFFER

When was it?

SCRIPTURE'S NUMBERS

No years given

No regnal years. Scripture dates his deeds by Judah's kings: Josiah's death, Jehoahaz's three months, and Carchemish in Jehoiakim's fourth year (Jer 46:2).

HORNUNG, KRAUSS AND WARBURTON (2006), FOR NECHO II

c. 610–595 BC[1]

Table, p. 494: 610–595.

BREASTED (1906)

c. 609–593 BC[2]

Chronological table: 609–593 B.C.

T. NICOL, ISBE (1915)

c. 610–594 BC[17]

"610–594 BC"; Nicol dates Megiddo 608 and Carchemish 604.

The king of Babylon, ruling Assyria's empire

Matthew Poole (1683–85); the Pulpit Commentary (1881)

"King of Assyria" means the Babylonian king, probably Nabopolassar. 2 Kings 23:29 [51][52]

The last king of Assyria

Ellicott's commentary; W. E. Barnes (1899)

Necho's enemy was the last king of Nineveh, then at war with Nabopolassar. 2 Chronicles 35:20 [54][55]

Cannot be determined

C. F. Keil (1872)

It depends on the year Nineveh fell, which Keil could not fix. 2 Kings 23:29 [53]

IN SCRIPTURE

Every passage

CHAPTERS · 6

2 Kings 23 2 Kings 24 2 Chronicles 35 2 Chronicles 36 Jeremiah 22 Jeremiah 46

PASSAGES · 6

2 Kings 23:29–35 2 Kings 24:7 2 Chronicles 35:20–25 2 Chronicles 36:1–4 Jeremiah 22:10–12 Jeremiah 46:1–26

WHAT SCRIPTURE DOES NOT SAY

  • Scripture does not say why Josiah went out against Necho.
  • Scripture does not say whether Necho reached the Euphrates in the year Josiah died, or what he did there.
  • Scripture does not name Necho in the account of Carchemish outside Jeremiah 46:2.

IDENTIFICATIONS THIS PAGE RELIES ON

  • Scholars' viewPharaoh-necho is identified with Necho II of Egypt's 26th dynasty, the Necos son of Psammetichos of Herodotus. 2 Kings 23:29 [17][6][21]
  • From the textThe person record also places under him "Pharaoh king of Egypt" in Jeremiah's oracle on Carchemish (Jer 46:17, 25), verses that do not name him. Jeremiah 46:17 Jeremiah 46:25

SOURCES

Where this page comes from

  • E. Hornung, R. Krauss and D. A. Warburton (eds.), Ancient Egyptian Chronology (Handbook of Oriental Studies 83; facts only) (2006), Chronological table for the dynastic period, pp. 490–495; Kushite rulers, p. 496.
  • J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, vol. I (Chronology) (1906), §§67–75, pp. 44–47 (chronological table).
  • J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, vol. III (1906), §§603–605, 617, pp. 257–258, 264 (Merneptah's Hymn of Victory).
  • J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, vol. IV (1906), §§701–724A, pp. 344–358 (Silsileh stela; great Karnak relief; Karnak stela).
  • J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, vol. IV (1906), §892, pp. 454–455 (Tanis stela of Taharka).
  • J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, vol. IV (1906), §§974–975, 984, pp. 497–501 (Serapeum stelae of Necho's and Apries' reigns).
  • J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, vol. IV (1906), §§996–1007, pp. 509–512 (Elephantine stela of Amasis).
  • J.-F. Champollion, Lettres écrites d'Égypte et de Nubie en 1828 et 1829 (1833), seventh letter (Thebes, 24 November 1828), p. 99.
  • W. M. Flinders Petrie, "Egypt", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. II (1915), pp. 911–913 (§§4–19, the connections with the Old Testament).
  • C. R. Conder, "Exodus, The", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. II (1915), pp. 1053–1055 (§§II–III, the date; the theory of Lepsius).
  • Edward Mack, "Chronology of the Old Testament", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. I (1915), p. 641.
  • M. G. Kyle, "Pharaoh", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. IV (1915), p. 2359.
  • M. G. Kyle, "Joseph", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. III (1915), pp. 1738–1739.
  • T. Nicol, "Shishak", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. IV (1915), pp. 2777–2778.
  • T. Nicol, "So", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. IV (1915), p. 2820.
  • T. Nicol, "Pharaoh Hophra", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. IV (1915), pp. 2359–2360.
  • T. Nicol, "Pharaoh-necoh", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. IV (1915), p. 2360.
  • T. G. Pinches, "Tirhakah", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. V (1915), p. 2986.
  • C. M. Cobern, "Zerah (the Ethiopian)", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. V (1915), pp. 3146–3147.
  • S. R. Driver, The Book of Exodus (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1911), Introduction §4, p. xxx; p. xlii, note 5.
  • Herodotus, tr. G. C. Macaulay, The History of Herodotus, vol. 1 (1890), Book II, §§158–159, 161, 169; Book IV, §42.
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §§5, 18, 55, pp. 5, 7–8, 26–27 (Sargon's annals and display inscription).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §§573, 580, pp. 224–227 (the Senjirli stele).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §§770–771, 778, pp. 292–296 (Ashurbanipal's first campaign against Egypt); §906, p. 351.
  • D. D. Luckenbill (after C. J. Gadd, The Fall of Nineveh, 1923), Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §§1166, 1183, pp. 416, 421.
  • D. D. Luckenbill, The Annals of Sennacherib (Oriental Institute Publications 2) (1924), pp. 31–32 (Oriental Institute Prism, col. II, ll. 73–81).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 324–327 (Sargon at Raphia); pp. 361–362 (Hophra).
  • D. J. Wiseman, Chronicles of Chaldaean Kings (626–556 B.C.) in the British Museum (facts only) (1956), BM 21946 (Babylonian Chronicle 5).
  • A. K. Grayson, Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles (facts only) (1975), Chronicle 5, obverse 1–11; reverse 5–8 (read in Livius's reproduction).
  • James Ussher, The Annals of the World (English edition) (1658), Part One, p. 68.
  • L. McFall, "A Translation Guide to the Chronological Data in Kings and Chronicles", Bibliotheca Sacra 148 (facts only) (1991), numbered texts 1–68; page numbers of the author's PDF.
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Exod 1:8 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on Exod 1:8 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, tr. J. Martin, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch, vol. 2 (1864), note on Exod 1:8 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on Exod 1:8 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1683–1685), note on Exod 1:8 (read on Bible Hub).
  • J. R. Lumby, The First Book of the Kings (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1886), note on 1 Kgs 3:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on 1 Kgs 3:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. J. Martin, Biblical Commentary on the Books of the Kings (Keil and Delitzsch) (1872), note on 1 Kgs 3:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on 1 Kgs 11:19 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on 1 Kgs 11:19 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. A. Harper, The Books of the Chronicles (Keil and Delitzsch) (1872), note on 2 Chr 12:9 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on 1 Kgs 14:25 (read on Bible Hub).
  • W. E. Barnes, The Books of Chronicles (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1899), note on 2 Chr 12:9 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on 2 Kgs 17:4 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on 2 Kgs 17:4 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. J. Martin, Biblical Commentary on the Books of the Kings (Keil and Delitzsch) (1872), note on 2 Kgs 17:4 (read on Bible Hub).
  • J. R. Lumby, The Second Book of the Kings (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1887), note on 2 Kgs 17:4 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on 2 Kgs 19:9 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on 2 Kgs 19:9 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1683–1685), note on 2 Kgs 23:29 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on 2 Kgs 23:29 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. J. Martin, Biblical Commentary on the Books of the Kings (Keil and Delitzsch) (1872), note on 2 Kgs 23:29 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on 2 Chr 35:20 (read on Bible Hub).
  • W. E. Barnes, The Books of Chronicles (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1899), note on 2 Chr 35:20 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Jer 37:5 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Jer 47:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • A. W. Streane, The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1881), note on Jer 47:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. D. Patrick and J. Kennedy, The Prophecies of Jeremiah (Keil and Delitzsch) (1874), note on Jer 47:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • R. Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and D. Brown, A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments (1871), note on Jer 47:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on Jer 47:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1683–1685), note on Ezek 29:2 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on Ezek 29:2 (read on Bible Hub).
  • James Ussher, The Annals of the World (English edition) (1658), Part One, pp. 12–13 (Rameses Miamun and his son Amenophis), p. 20 (Amenophis "drowned in the red Sea").

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