HOPHRA (hoph'ra), (Heb. khoth-ra', Pharaoh-hophra), king of Egypt in the time of Zedekiah, king of Judah, and of Nebuchadnezzar, king of I3abylon.
Ile formed alliance with the former against the latter, and his advance with an Egyptian army constrained the Chaldxans to raise the siege of Jerusalem (Jer. xxxvii :5); but they soon returned and took and destroyed the city. This momentary aid, and the danger of placing reliance on the protection of Ilophra, led Ezekiel to compare the Egyptians to a broken reed, which was to pierce the hand of him that leaned upon it (Ezek. xxix 6, 7). This alliance was, however, disapproved by God; and Jeremiah was authorized to deliver the prophecy contained in his 44th chapter, which con /. A mountain in Arabia Petrtea, on the con fines of Idunuca, and forming part of the mountain of Seir or Edom. It is mentioned in Scripture in connection with the circumstances recorded in Num. XX :22-29 ; 41. The Israelites were encamped before it, when Aaron was sum moned to its top to die there, in the presence of his brother and son, who alone witnessed his final departure. (See AARON.) (1) Location. The mountain now identified with Mount Hor is the most conspicuous in the whole range of Mount Seir, and at this day bears the name of Mount Aaron (Jebel Haroun). It is in N. lat. 3o deg. t8 min., E. long. 35 deg. 33 min.
about mid-way between the Dead Sea and the rElanitic Gulf. It may be open to question if this is really the Mount Hor on which Aaron died, see eludes with a prediction of Ilophra's death and the subjugation of his country by the Chaldteans (B. C. 588).
This Pharaoh-hophra is identified with the Ap ries or Vaphres of ancient authors, and he 'nay be the Psamatik Ill. of the monuments. Under this identification we may conclude that his wars with the Syrians and Cyrenxans prevented hint from affording any great assistance to Zedekiah. Eze kiel xxix :3 speaks of this king as 'the great dragon that lieth in the midst of the rivers. which hath said. my river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.' His overthrow and subsequent captivity and death arc foretold with remarkable precision by Jeremiah (xliv :3o). This was brought about by a revolt of the troops. who placed Amasis at their head, and after various conflicts took Aprics prisoner. He was for a time kept in easy captivity by Amasis. who wished to spare his life; but he was at length constrained to give him up to the vengeance of his enemies, hy whom he was strangled (Herod. ii :169; Wil kinson, Anc. Egyptians, i :168, 182).