PHARAOH (1in? ; Sept. papaw), the general title of the kings of Egypt in the O. T., and found only there and in the writers who have drawn from that source. It often stands simply like a proper name (Gen. xii. 15 ; xxxvii. 36 ; xl. 2, seq. ; xliv. r, seq. ; and so generally throughout the Pentateuch, and also in Cant. i. 9 ; Is. xix. I I ; xxx. 2). King of Egypt' is sometimes subjoined to it (1 Kings iii. ; 2 Kings xvii. 7 ; xviii. 2 it) ; and sometimes alsc the more specific designation, or real proper name of the monarch is indicated, as Pharaoh Necho (2 Kings xxiii. 33), Pharaoh Hophra (Jer. xliv. 30). Josephus intimates that the word signifies `the king' in the Egyptian language (Antig. viii. 6. 2). This is apparently confirmed by our finding the word `king' written in the dialect of Memphis o-rpo, onro, and with the masculine article 1107p0, .ftiouro (Jablonsky, Opusc. i. 3741 Peyron, Lex. Copt., p. r5o). The idea has, ever, been more recently started that Pharaoh cor responds to the Egyptian 'lit-pit, Ara, the sun,' which is written as an hieroglyphic symbol over the titles of kings (Rosellini, Monument. Storici, i. 117 ; Lepsius, Lettre d Rosellini, p. 25 ; Wilkin son, "inc. Egyptians, iv. 287). It seems to ns that this explanation might be admitted without contra dicting the other, seeing that it is not only possible, but highly probable, that the Egyptians should make the name of the sun a royal title, and that at length custom rendered it equivalent to king.' The practice of ancient, and, indeed, modern Oriental kings, of associating the idea of their own dignity with the glory of the sun, is well known.
1. The first Pharaoh mentioned in Scripture is in connection with the history of Abraham (Gen. xii. ro-20). In the uncertainty which hangs over early Egyptian chronology it is impossible to identify this prince with precision. It is probable, however, that he was one of the shepherd kings, who were of a Semitic race. Mr. Poole concludes that he was Salatis or Saftas, the first king of the r5th dynasty, whose reign commenced B.C. 2080.
2. The Pharaoh of 7oscph (Gen. xxxvii. 36, seg.) is supposed by Bunsen to be Sesertesen I., the head of the rith dynasty, but Mr. Poole contends that this would place Joseph's history at too early a date, and is besides rendered improbable by the fact that Sesertesen I. was a native Egyptian prince who would hardly under any circumstances have elected a IIebrew slave to such eminence of dignity and favour as Joseph received. It is more probable
that he was one of the shepherd kings ; and there is reason to believe that Eusebius is right in calling him Apophis, who appears to have been the fifth or sixth king of the 15th dynasty.
3, 4. The Pharaoh who oppressed the Israelites is by Bunsen and others supposed to have been Rameses IL, and his son Menephthah (Men•ptall ='.A.Acembrpir), the Pharaoh of the exode. But there is little evidence for this beyond the statement of Manetho ; and the date thus assigned to the exode is much too late. Mr. Poole thinks that the op pressor of the Israelites was probably a foreigner of Assyrian descent, and refers to Is. lii. 4 in cor roboration of his opinion.
5. Pharaoh thefather-in-law of Mered. [BITHIAH; MERED.] 6. Pharaoh the father-in-law of Ha dad. Hadad was one of those who rose up against Solomon, and being defeated by him fled to Egypt, where he married the sister of Tahpanhes, the queen of the Pharaoh. [IIADAD.] It is not probable that this Pharaoh was the one whose daughter Solomon married ; he may have been his predecessor, in which case he was Phinakes or Osochor of the 21st dynasty.
7. Pharaoh the father-in-law of Solomon. This was probably Pusemes II., a king of the 21st dynasty.
S. Pharaoh the ally of the 7ews against Sen nacherib (Is. xxxvi. 6). By many this `king of Mizraim' is supposed to be the same person who appears as Tirhakah, king of Cush (2 Kings xix. 9), and So, king of Mizraim (2 Kings xvii. 4), and they identify him with Sevech II., the Sabacon of Herodotus (ii. 137, ff.), who reigned about 715 B.C. But others think the person styled Pharaoh was different from Tirhakah and So, and is to be iden tified with the Sethos of Herodotus (ii. 141).
9. Pharaoh who besieged Gaza (Jer. xlvii. I). This can be none other than Psammetichus I. (Herod. ii. 157), who reigned contemporaneously with the last years of Manasseh, the reign of Amon, and the early years of Josiah.
Jo. Pharaoh Necho. [NEcHo.] Jr. Pharaoh Hophra. [HoPHRA.] (See Bunsen, Sidle, translated by Cottrell, and his Bibelwerk, i. 225, ff. ; the article Egypt in the Encyclopadia Britannica, and the art. Pharaoh in Smith's Diet. of the Bible, by Mr. Stuart Poole ; and art. MANETHO in this work.)