### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name **Parʻôh Nᵉkôh**, represented by `{{H6549}}`, refers to an Egyptian king, Pharaoh-necho or Pharaohnechoh. This specific title, derived from Egyptian, appears **5 times** across **5 unique verses** in the biblical record, chronicling a period of significant political and military turmoil involving the kingdom of Judah.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, **Parʻôh Nᵉkôh** `{{H6549}}` is a powerful monarch whose actions directly impact the fate of Judah's kings. He is recorded as going up to the river **Euphrates** `{{H6578}}` to fight against the **king** `{{H4428}}` of Assyria [[2 Kings 23:29]]. When King **Josiah** `{{H2977}}` of Judah went against him, Pharaohnechoh **slew** `{{H4191}}` him at **Megiddo** `{{H4023}}` [[2 Kings 23:29]]. Following this, he put Josiah's successor, **Jehoahaz** `{{H3059}}`, in bands at **Riblah** `{{H7247}}` and imposed a **tribute** `{{H6066}}` of **silver** `{{H3701}}` and **gold** `{{H2091}}` upon the **land** `{{H776}}` of Judah [[2 Kings 23:33]]. He then installed **Eliakim** `{{H471}}`, another **son** `{{H1121}}` of Josiah, as king, changing his **name** `{{H8034}}` to **Jehoiakim** `{{H3079}}` [[2 Kings 23:34]]. Later, the **army** `{{H2428}}` of Pharaohnecho was **smote** `{{H5221}}` at **Carchemish** `{{H3751}}` by **Nebuchadrezzar** `{{H5019}}` **king** `{{H4428}}` of **Babylon** `{{H894}}` [[Jeremiah 46:2]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several key figures are directly connected to the history of **Parʻôh Nᵉkôh** `{{H6549}}`:
* `{{H2977}}` **Yôʼshîyâh** (Josiah): The king of **Judah** `{{H3063}}` who confronted Pharaohnechoh's army and was **slew** `{{H4191}}` by him at **Megiddo** `{{H4023}}` [[2 Kings 23:29]].
* `{{H3059}}` **Yᵉhôwʼâchâz** (Jehoahaz): The **son** `{{H1121}}` of Josiah who was made king after his father's death but was quickly deposed, put in **bands** `{{H631}}`, and taken to **Egypt** `{{H4714}}` by Pharaohnechoh ([[2 Kings 23:33]], [[2 Kings 23:34]]).
* `{{H3079}}` **Yᵉhôwyâqîym** (Jehoiakim): The son of Josiah whom Pharaohnechoh installed as **king** `{{H4427}}` over Judah, changing his name from **Eliakim** `{{H471}}`. He was responsible for collecting the tribute for Pharaoh [[2 Kings 23:34-35]].
* `{{H5019}}` **Nᵉbûwkadneʼtstsar** (Nebuchadrezzar): The king of **Babylon** `{{H894}}` who defeated the army of Pharaohnecho at **Carchemish** `{{H3751}}`, marking a significant shift in regional power [[Jeremiah 46:2]].
### Theological Significance
The historical significance of **Parʻôh Nᵉkôh** `{{H6549}}` is defined by his direct and forceful intervention in the affairs of the kingdom of Judah.
* **Decisive Military Action:** His campaign toward the **Euphrates** `{{H6578}}` led to the death of the righteous king **Josiah** `{{H2977}}` at **Megiddo** `{{H4023}}`, a pivotal and tragic event in Judah's history [[2 Kings 23:29]].
* **Political Subjugation of Judah:** He demonstrated Egypt's authority by deposing one king, **Jehoahaz** `{{H3059}}`, and installing another, **Jehoiakim** `{{H3079}}`, as his vassal [[2 Kings 23:33-34]].
* **Economic Exploitation:** The imposition of a heavy **tribute** `{{H6066}}` of one hundred **talents** `{{H3603}}` of **silver** `{{H3701}}` and a talent of **gold** `{{H2091}}` placed a severe economic burden on the **people** `{{H5971}}` of the **land** `{{H776}}` ([[2 Kings 23:33]], [[2 Kings 23:35]]).
* **Clash of Empires:** The narrative places him at the center of the conflict between the fading Assyrian empire and the rising Babylonian empire, with his defeat by **Nebuchadrezzar** `{{H5019}}` signaling the decline of Egyptian influence in the region [[Jeremiah 46:2]].
### Summary
In summary, **Parʻôh Nᵉkôh** `{{H6549}}` is an Egyptian king who features prominently as an agent of political upheaval for Judah. His actions—killing King Josiah, deposing and exiling Jehoahaz, and installing Jehoiakim as a puppet ruler—underscore a period of foreign domination and crisis for the Davidic monarchy. The biblical account portrays him as a powerful regional player whose influence was ultimately checked by the rise of Babylon under Nebuchadrezzar.
TRV