Pharaoh

AI summary: This Pharaoh matters because the cross references present him as the royal figure through whom Abram's fear-driven deception is exposed and corrected. Though powerful, he is also vulnerable to divine intervention, and the episode shows that God's protection of the covenant line can operate even through morally compromised circumstances. His role is brief but important to the early patriarchal story. Taken together, the material presents this Pharaoh as the foreign king through whom Abram's failure is checked and God's preserving care is seen.¹

The Pharaoh who was on the throne when Abram went down into Egypt (Gen. 12:10-20) was probably one of the Hyksos, or “shepherd kings.” The Egyptians called the nomad tribes of Syria Shasu, “plunderers,” their king or chief Hyk, and hence the name of those invaders who conquered the native kings and established a strong government, with Zoan or Tanis as their capital. They were of Semitic origin, and of kindred blood accordingly with Abram. They were probably driven forward by the pressure of the Hittites. The name they bear on the monuments is “Mentiu.” ³