Pharaoh living at the time of Divided Monarchy
Pharaoh, the Egyptian ruler whom Judah's King Hezekiah sought as an ally against the Assyrian threat.
🗺 Places mentioned alongside Pharaoh on the map →
This Pharaoh was the Egyptian ruler during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah (2Ki.18.21; Isa.36.6). When Judah was threatened by the Assyrian Empire, Hezekiah sought an alliance with Egypt, hoping to receive military support. However, the prophet Isaiah warned against relying on Egypt, comparing Pharaoh's support to a broken reed that would pierce the hand of anyone who leaned on it (Isa.36.6).
Isaiah also prophesied against Egypt, mocking the wisdom of Pharaoh's counselors and predicting that their advice would lead Egypt astray (Isa.19.11-14). He warned Judah not to seek refuge in Egypt or rely on Pharaoh's protection (Isa.30.2-3).
The specific identity of this Pharaoh is not provided in the Bible. However, based on the historical and archaeological evidence, some scholars suggest that he may have been Shabaka or Shebitku, rulers of the 25th Dynasty of Egypt (Nubian Pharaohs), who were contemporary with Hezekiah's reign and engaged in conflicts with the Assyrian Empire.
More background: search Wikipedia ↗
5 verses in 2 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H6547
Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaohʼs wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”?
They set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice, to seek shelter under Pharaohʼs protection and take refuge in Egyptʼs shade.
But Pharaohʼs protection will become your shame, and the refuge of Egyptʼs shade your disgrace.
Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.