Introduction:
Necho, also known as Pharaoh Necho II, was a significant figure in the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of the late 7th century BC. He was a king of Egypt from the 26th Dynasty, reigning from approximately 610 to 595 BC. Necho is most notably mentioned in the context of his interactions with the Kingdom of Judah and his military campaigns in the region.

Biblical References:
Necho is primarily mentioned in the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. His most notable biblical appearance is during the reign of King Josiah of Judah.

1. 2 Kings 23:29-30 :
"While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo. Josiah’s servants carried his body in a chariot from Megiddo to Jerusalem and buried him in his own tomb."

2. 2 Chronicles 35:20-24 :
"After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to confront him. But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, 'What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry, so stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you.' But Josiah did not turn away from him; instead, he disguised himself to fight against Necho. He did not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command, but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo. There the archers shot King Josiah, who said to his servants, 'Take me away, for I am badly wounded.' So they took him out of his chariot, put him in his second chariot, and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his fathers, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah."

Historical Context:
Necho's reign was marked by significant military campaigns and efforts to expand Egyptian influence in the Near East. His campaign to the Euphrates was part of a larger geopolitical struggle involving the declining Assyrian Empire and the rising Babylonian power. Necho's intervention was likely aimed at supporting the remnants of the Assyrian forces against the Babylonians.

Interactions with Judah:
The encounter between Necho and Josiah at Megiddo is a pivotal moment in the history of Judah. Josiah, a reforming king who sought to restore the worship of Yahweh, opposed Necho's advance, possibly due to political alliances or religious convictions. Despite Necho's warning, Josiah engaged in battle and was fatally wounded, leading to his death and significant mourning in Judah.

Aftermath and Influence:
Following Josiah's death, Necho exerted influence over Judah by deposing Josiah's successor, Jehoahaz, and installing Eliakim (renamed Jehoiakim) as king, as recorded in 2 Kings 23:34 : "Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt, where he died."

Necho's actions had long-lasting implications for Judah, as they marked the beginning of a period of Egyptian dominance, which was soon to be overshadowed by the Babylonian Empire. His involvement in the region set the stage for the subsequent Babylonian conquest and the eventual exile of the Jewish people.

Conclusion:
Necho's role in the biblical narrative highlights the complex interplay of political and military forces in the ancient Near East. His interactions with Judah, particularly the tragic encounter with Josiah, underscore the challenges faced by the kingdom during a time of significant geopolitical upheaval.Necho

lame; beaten

Necho

(lame). (2 Chronicles 35:20,22; 36:4) [PHARAOH-NECHO]

Necho II

An Egyptian king, the son and successor of Psammetichus (B.C. 610-594), the contemporary of Josiah, king of Judah. For some reason he proclaimed war against the king of Assyria. He led forth a powerful army and marched northward, but was met by the king of Judah at Megiddo, who refused him a passage through his territory. Here a fierce battle was fought and Josiah was slain (2 Chronicles 35:20-24). Possibly, as some suppose, Necho may have brought his army by sea to some port to the north of Dor (Comp. Joshua 11:2; 12:23), a Phoenician town at no great distance from Megiddo. After this battle Necho marched on to Carchemish (q.v.), where he met and conquered the Assyrian army, and thus all the Syrian provinces, including Palestine, came under his dominion.

On his return march he deposed Jehoahaz, who had succeeded his father Josiah, and made Eliakim, Josiah's eldest son, whose name he changed into Jehoiakim, king. Jehoahaz he carried down into Egypt, where he died (2 Kings 23:31; 2 Chronicles 36:1-4). Four years after this conquest Necho again marched to the Euphrates; but here he was met and his army routed by the Chaldeans (B.C. 606) under Nebuchadnezzar, who drove the Egyptians back, and took from them all the territory they had conquered, from the Euphrates unto the "river of Egypt" (Jeremiah 46:2; 2 Kings 24:7, 8). Soon after this Necho died, and was succeeded by his son, Psammetichus II. (see NEBUCHADNEZZAR.)

NECHO; NECHOH

ne'-ko.

See PHARAOH-NECOH.

5224. Neko -- a king of Egypt
... NASB Word Usage Neco (3). Necho. Probably of Egyptian origin; Neko, an Egyptian
king -- Necho. Compare Par'oh Nkoh. see HEBREW Par'oh Nkoh. 5223, 5224. ...
/hebrew/5224.htm - 6k

The Captivity.
... Josiah lived between two mighty powers; the King of Babylon, who had newly taken
Nineveh, and Pharaoh Necho, King of Egypt, a very bold and able man, who hired ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson x the captivity.htm

Appendices
... to recover it. Finally, Psamtik, son of Niku (Necho), satrap of Sais, shakes
off the foreign yoke. DYNASTY XXVI. (SAITE). BC 1. Psamtik ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/appendices.htm

Egypt
... The defeat of Necho at Carchemish handed Palestine over to the Babylonians, and
indirectly brought about the destruction of Jerusalem; even in the age of the ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter v egypt.htm

On Daniel. I. Preface by the Most Holy Hippolytus, (Bishop) of ...
... Against him comes up Pharaoh-Necho, in the third month of his reign; and he takes
him (Jehoahaz) prisoner, and carries him into Egypt, and imposes tribute on ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on daniel i preface by.htm

How Vainglory May be Useful to Us.
... of vainglory, there is an excellent and significant figure in the book of Kings,
where, when the children of Israel had been taken captive by Necho, King of ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xii how vainglory may.htm

The Final Conflict.
... It was afterwards memorable for the death of king Josiah, when Pharaoh-necho fought
against him, (2 Kings 23:29); so that the mourning as "in the valley of ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the final conflict.htm

The Jewish Institutions and Laws of Far Higher Antiquity than the ...
... He [2062] having disobeyed Jeremiah the prophet, was slain by Pharaoh Necho king
of Egypt at the river Euphrates, having encountered the latter, who was ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xxi the jewish institutions and.htm

The Sixth vision "On Earth"
... For there Deborah and Barak destroyed Sisera and his host (Judges 5:19); there King
Josiah was overthrown by Pharaoh-Necho, king of Egypt (2 Kings 23:29.2 ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the sixth vision on earth.htm

Upon the Gathering Together of the Waters.
... 158) attributes the canal to Necho. Strabo (xvii. 804) says Darius, in supposing
Egypt to lie lower than the sea, was pseudei peistheis. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily iv upon the gathering.htm

CHAP. I. -II. 3 (II. 1).
... To it also belonged the plain near the town of Megiddo, where Josiah, in the battle
against Pharaoh-Necho, was mortally wounded. Compare Rosenmueller, Alt. ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i -ii 3 ii 1.htm

Necho (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Necho II. ... Possibly, as some suppose, Necho may have
brought his army by sea to some port to the north of Dor (Comp. ...
/n/necho.htm - 9k

Pharaoh-necho (1 Occurrence)
Pharaoh-necho. Pharaohnecho, Pharaoh-necho. Pharaohnechoh .
Multi-Version Concordance Pharaoh-necho (1 Occurrence). ...
/p/pharaoh-necho.htm - 6k

Ashurbanipal (1 Occurrence)
... If the latter, his restoration of Manasseh was paralleled in the instance of Necho,
the vassal king of Memphis and Sais, who also had revolted from Assyria ...
/a/ashurbanipal.htm - 12k

Nechoh (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia NECHO; NECHOH. ne'-ko. See PHARAOH-NECOH.
Multi-Version Concordance Nechoh (1 Occurrence). 2 Kings ...
/n/nechoh.htm - 6k

Nebuchadnezzar (90 Occurrences)
... Babylonian dynasties were united. Necho II., the king of Egypt, gained a victory
over the Assyrians at Carchemish. (see JOSIAH; MEGIDDO ...
/n/nebuchadnezzar.htm - 57k

Josiah (51 Occurrences)
... During the progress of this great religious revolution Jeremiah helped it on
by his earnest exhortations. Soon after this, Pharaoh-Necho II. ...
/j/josiah.htm - 42k

Pharaohnecoh
... ne'-ko (par`oh nekhoh, also nekho; Nechao (2 Kings 23:29, 33, 34 2 Chronicles
35:22; 2 Chronicles 36:4, the King James Version, Necho, the Revised Version ...
/p/pharaohnecoh.htm - 11k

Pharaoh-necoh (3 Occurrences)
... ne'-ko (par`oh nekhoh, also nekho; Nechao (2 Kings 23:29, 33, 34 2 Chronicles
35:22; 2 Chronicles 36:4, the King James Version, Necho, the Revised Version ...
/p/pharaoh-necoh.htm - 12k

Necessity (22 Occurrences)

/n/necessity.htm - 13k

Jehoahaz (22 Occurrences)
... He fell into the idolatrous ways of his predecessors (23:32), was deposed by
Pharaoh-Necho from the throne, and carried away prisoner into Egypt, where he died ...
/j/jehoahaz.htm - 23k

Who was King Zedekiah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Why do some people in the Bible have more than one name? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of the Babylonian Empire in biblical history? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus