Necho II
Pharaoh who marched to the Euphrates in 609 BC, killed Josiah at Megiddo and put Jehoiakim on the throne of Judah as his vassal. He lost Syria and Palestine when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed his army at Carchemish in 605 BC.
In 609 BC an Egyptian army crossed the Euphrates in support of the last king of Assyria (Babylonian Chronicle 3 year 17). Kings says that Pharaoh Necho was on his way there when King Josiah went out against him at Megiddo and was killed (2 Kings 23:29); Chronicles has Necho warn Josiah first that his quarrel was not with Judah (2 Chronicles 35:20–22). Necho then deposed Josiah’s son Jehoahaz, made Jehoiakim king and put Judah under tribute (2 Kings 23:33–35). In 605 BC the Babylonian crown prince Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed the Egyptian army at Carchemish (Babylonian Chronicle 5 obv. 1–8) (Jeremiah 46:2), and Egypt lost everything it had held between the Brook of Egypt and the Euphrates (2 Kings 24:7).
Herodotus, writing about 170 years later, says that Necos left off digging a canal, built warships, defeated the Syrians at Magdolus, took the city of Cadytis and reigned sixteen years (Herodotus, Histories 2.159).
In the timeline
- 609 BC, firm dateJosiah Falls at Megiddo
Pharaoh Necho marches north to the Euphrates in support of Assyria. King Josiah of Judah goes out against him at Megiddo and is killed. Three months later Necho deposes Josiah’s son Jehoahaz and makes Jehoiakim king as Egypt’s vassal.
- 605 BC, firm dateBabylon Defeats Egypt at Carchemish
The Babylonian crown prince Nebuchadnezzar destroys the Egyptian army at Carchemish on the Euphrates and, within months, becomes king. Egypt loses Syria and Palestine, and Judah passes from Egyptian to Babylonian rule.
Primary sources
Histories
- Herodotus, Histories 2.159perseus.tufts.edu