Necho

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Necho ( Nç'Ko ) or Pharaoh-necho . King of Egypt.  2 Chronicles 35:20, R. V., "Neco." Son of Psammetichus. Josiah, king of Judah, being tributary to the king of Babylon, opposed Necho on his first expedition against Nebuchadnezzar, and gave him battle at Megiddo, where he received the wound of which he died. On Necho's return from the Euphrates, where he had taken and garrisoned the city of Carchemish, b.c. 610, he halted in Riblah in Syria, and sending for Jehoahaz, king of the Jews, he deposed him, loaded him with chains, and sent him into Egypt.  2 Chronicles 36:4; Then coming to Jerusalem, he set up Eliakim, or Jehoiakim, Josiah's first-born, in his place. Carchemish was retaken by the army of the king of Babylon, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah,  Jeremiah 46:2; so that Necho did not retain his conquests in Syria more than four years.  2 Kings 23:29 to  2 Kings 24:7. "Pharaoh-necoh" in the R. V.  2 Chronicles 35:20 to  2 Chronicles 36:6.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ne'cho. (Lame).  2 Chronicles 35:20;  2 Chronicles 35:22;  2 Chronicles 36:4. See Pharaoh-Necho .

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

We read of Pharaoh Neeho, king of Egypt,  2 Kings 23:29. Probably the name of Necho was added to that of Pharaoh on account of some lameness, as Necho means lame.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 2 Chronicles 35:22 2 Chronicles 36:4 Jeremiah 46:2Neco

Morrish Bible Dictionary

See [[Egypt [Pharaoh-Necho]]]

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Neko', נְכו , an Egyptian name; Sept. and Josephus, Νεχαώ ; fully נְכופִּרְעֹה , Pharaoh Necho,  2 Kings 23:29;  2 Kings 23:33-35, etc.; once Heb. נְכֹה , Nekoh',  Jeremiah 46:2; Herodotus, Νεκώς ; on the twofold appellation of this king on the monuments, see Rosellini, Monuum. Stor. 2:131 sq., tab. 9), an Egyptian king, son and successor (according to Herodotus, 2:158) of Psammetichus, and contemporary of the Jewish king Josiah (B.C. 609). The wars and successes of Pharaoh-Necho in Syria are recorded by sacred as well as profane writers, affording a striking instance of agreement between them. On coming to the throne he organized powerful fleets on the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Having engaged some Phoenician sailors, he sent them on a voyage of discovery along the coasts of Africa. According to Herodotus (4:42, 3), they circumnavigated that continent from the Arabian Gulf by the Pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar) to Egypt, and related that in the south they had the sun on their right hand, which that historian could not believe. Most modern writers, consider this testimony sufficient, and the voyage attested (see Grote, Hist. of Greece, 3:283 sq.; Beck, Welt-Gesch. 1:595 sq.; comp. Pliny, Hist. Nat. 2:67; Arrian, Rer. Ind. ad fin.). Necho undertook to check the growth of Babylonian power, and with this view collected a powerful army, and entering Palestine, followed the route along the sea-coast of Judaea, intending to besiege the town of Carchemish on the Euphrates. But Josiah, king of Judah, offended at the passage of the Egyptian army through his territories, resolved to impede, if unable to prevent, their march. Necho sent messengers to induce him to desist, assuring him that he had no hostile intentions against Judsea, "but against the house wherewith I have war; for God commanded me to make haste." This conciliatory message was of no avail. Josiah posted himself in the valley of Megiddo, and prepared to oppose the Egyptians. Megiddo was a city in the tribe of Manasseh, between forty and fifty miles to the north of Jerusalem, and within three hours of the coast. It is apparently confounded by Herodotus with Magdolus in Egypt. In this valley the feeble forces of the Jewish king, having attacked Necho, were routed with great slaughter. Josiah being wounded in the neck with an arrow, ordered his attendants to take him from the field. Escaping from the heavy shower of arrows with which their broken ranks were overwhelmed, they removed him from the chariot in which he had been wounded, and placing him in a "second one that he had," they conveyed him to Jerusalem, where he died ( 2 Kings 23:29-30;  2 Chronicles 35:20 sq.). (See Josiah).

Necho continued his march to the Euphrates. But three months had scarcely elapsed when, returning from the capture of Carchemish and the defeat of the Chaldeans, he learned that, though Josiah had left an elder son, Jehoahaz had caused himself to be proclaimed king on the death of his father, without soliciting Necho to sanction his taking the crown. Incensed at this, he deposed Jehoahaz (apparently having summoned him to Riblah), and carried him a prisoner to Jerusalem. On arriving there, Necho made Eliakin, the eldest son, king, changing his name to Jehoiakim; and taking the silver and gold which had been levied upon the Jewish nation, he returned to Egypt with the captive Jehoahaz, who there died ( 2 Kings 23:31 sq.;  2 Chronicles 36:1-4). Herodotus says that Necho, after having routed the Syrians (the Jews) at Magdolus, took Cadytis, a large city of Syria, in Palestine, which, he adds, is very little less than Sardis (2:159; 3:5). By Cadytis there is scarcely a doubt he meant Jerusalem; the word is only a Greek form of the ancient, as well as the modern, name of that city. In the fourth year after this expedition Necho again marched into Syria, and advanced to the Euphrates. Here Nebuchadnezzar completely routed his army, recovered the town of Carchemish, and, pushing his conquests through Palestine, took from Necho all the territory belonging to the Pharaohs, from the Euphrates to the southern extremity of Syria ( 2 Kings 24:7-8;  Jeremiah 46:2;  2 Chronicles 36:9). (See Nebuchadnezzar). Necho soon after died, and was succeeded by Psammetichus II (Wilkinson's Anc. Egyptians, 1:157 sq.). (See Egypt).

According to Manetho (Euseb. Chronicles Arzen. 1:219), Necho was the sixth king in the twenty-sixth dynasty, successor of Psammetichus, and as there had been another of the same name, he was properly Necho the Second. The period of his reign was, according to Manetho, six, according to Herodotus sixteen, vears (consult Gesenius, Jesaia, 1:596). See Larcherj Ad Herod. 2:158 sq.; 4:42; Diod. 1:33, and Wess. ad loc.; Strabo, 1:56; Heeren, African Nat. 2:374, 389; Bunsen, Egyptens Stelle in der Welt-Geschichte, 3:141 sq; (See Pharaoh).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ne´cho, an Egyptian king, son and successor (according to Herodotus, 2:158) of Psammetichus, and contemporary of the Jewish King Josias (B.C. 610). The wars and success of Necho, in Syria, are recorded by sacred as well as profane writers. Studious of military renown, and the furtherance of commerce, Necho, on ascending the throne of Egypt, applied himself to reorganize the army, and to equip a powerful fleet. In order to promote his purposes, he courted the Greeks, to whose troops he gave a post next to his Egyptians. He fitted out a fleet in the Mediterranean, and another in the Red Sea. Having engaged some expert Phoenician sailors, he sent them on a voyage of discovery along the coast of Africa. To him belongs the honor of being the first to equip an expedition for the purpose of circumnavigating Africa, and he thereby ascertained the peninsular form of that continent, twenty-one centuries before the Cape of Good Hope was seen by Diaz, or doubled by Vasco de Gama.

Before entering on this voyage of discovery, Necho had commenced reopening the canal from the Nile to the Red Sea, which had been cut many years before by Sesostris or Rameses the Great. The work, however, if we may believe Herodotus, was abandoned, an oracle warning the Egyptian monarch that he was laboring for the barbarian (Herod, ii. 158).

Necho also turned his attention to the Egyptian conquests already made in Asia: and, fearing lest the growing power of the Babylonians should endanger the territories acquired by the arms of his victorious predecessors, he determined to check their progress, and to attack the enemy on his own frontier. With this view he collected a powerful army, and entering Palestine, followed the route along the sea-coast of Judea, intending to besiege the town of Carchemish on the Euphrates. But Josiah, King of Judah, offended at the passage of the Egyptian army through his territories, resolved to impede, if unable to prevent, their march. Necho sent messengers to induce him to desist, assuring him that he had no hostile intentions against Judea, 'but against the house wherewith I have war; for God commanded me to make haste.' This conciliatory message was of no avail. Josiah posted himself in the valley of Megiddo, and prepared to oppose the Egyptians. In this valley the feeble forces of the Jewish king, having attacked Necho, were routed with great slaughter. Josiah, being wounded in the neck with an arrow, ordered his attendants to take him from the field. Escaping from the heavy shower of arrows with which their broken ranks were overwhelmed, they removed him from the chariot in which he had been wounded, and placing him in a 'second one that he had.' they conveyed him to Jerusalem, where he died (, sq.; , sq.).

Intent upon his original project, Necho did not stop to revenge himself upon the Jews, but continued his march to the Euphrates. Three months had scarcely elapsed, when, returning from the capture of Carchemish and the defeat of the Chaldæans, he learned that, though Josiah had left an elder son, Jehoahaz had caused himself to be proclaimed king on the death of his father, without soliciting Necho to sanction his taking the crown. Incensed at this, he ordered Jehoahaz to meet him 'at Riblah, in the land of Hamath;' and having deposed him, and condemned the land to pay a heavy tribute, he carried him a prisoner to Jerusalem. On arriving there, Necho made Eliakim, the eldest son, king, changing his name to Jehoiakim; and taking the silver and gold which had been levied upon the Jewish nation, he returned to Egypt with the captive Jehoahaz, who there terminated his short and unfortunate career. Herodotus says that Necho, after having routed the Syrians (the Jews) at Magdolus, took Cadytis, a large city of Syria, in Palestine, which, he adds, is very little less than Sardis (ii. 159; iii. 5). By Cadytis there is scarcely a doubt he meant Jerusalem; the word is only a Greek form of the ancient, as well as the modern, name of that city.

Pleased with his success, the Egyptian monarch dedicated the dress he wore to the Deity who was supposed to have given him the victory. He did not long enjoy the advantages he had obtained. In the fourth year after his expedition, being alarmed at the increasing power of the Babylonians, he again marched into Syria, and advanced to the Euphrates. The Babylonians were prepared for his approach. Nebuchadnezzar completely routed his army, recovered the town of Carchemish, and, pushing his conquests through Palestine, took from Necho all the territory belonging to the Pharaohs, from the Euphrates to the southern extremity of Syria . Nebuchadnezzar deposed Jehoiachin, who had succeeded his father, and carried the warriors and treasures away to Babylon; a short time previous to which Necho died, and was succeeded by Psammetichus II.