untold stories of the bible

Pharaoh's Demise

by Marisa Baggett

After the age of Joseph, his brothers, and all his generation, the Israelites multiplied and filled the land of Egypt. And a new king arose that did not know Joseph (Exodus 1:8) Indeed, this king was a new kind of king. This king did not inherit the throne after the death of the father. This king served as regent for an infant step child. This king was a woman.

The beginning of Pharaoh’s rule was not an easy one. Toleration of her position did little to appease her desires to be exalted, worshiped, and revered like the ages of Pharaohs before her. The fear of being conquered from within and without the land of Egypt disturbed her dreams. It was particularly troublesome that the Israelites would not worship Egypt’s gods and by extension Pharaoh. Even some of the Egyptians had become less interested in the temples - a thought which Pharaoh assumed was against her rule.This would not do, and Pharaoh crafted a plan to set an example for all of Egypt. And Pharaoh declared of the Israelites, “Let us deal shrewdly with them, so that they may not increase; otherwise in the event of war they may join our enemies in fighting against us and rise from the ground.” (Exodus 1:10)

It is said that Pharaoh never intended to relinquish Egypt when the boy came of age, for His Majesty, Herself had finally achieved successful births - one son and one daughter. It was these heirs that Pharaoh preferred over the kingship of her stepson. Nonetheless, a quiet, albeit growing, sentiment suggested he should now assume it.

To Pharaoh’s dismay, the Israelites continued to be prolific and multiplied greatly under the harsh oppression. Even after the Hebrew midwives defied to do as commanded and kill all Hebrew boys born, Pharaoh remained suspicious that both Israelites and Egyptians alike would conspire to end her reign. It was time for action. So Pharaoh charged all the people, saying, “Every boy that is born you shall throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.” (Exodus (1:22)

The Eternal One knew the first plagues brought against Egypt would not sway Pharaoh's heart. Even as the plagues became more severe, the courtiers most loyal to Pharaoh's rule and inheritance of her progeny agreed the Israelites must not be freed. However, Pharaoh’s stepson, concerned for the future of Egypt, wanted to release the Israelites and avoid any further decimation. He appealed and found favor with the magicians whose efforts at last could not match the plagues brought upon Egypt. But Pharaoh knew that to release the Israelites would admit defeat and bring forth questions of her legitimacy to rule. So she ignored them and remained unmoved and stiff of heart.

And when it came to pass that The Eternal One fulfilled the last plague and "struck down all the [male] first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh who sat on the throne to the first-born of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the first-born of the cattle" (Exodus 12:29), Pharaoh was distraught and broken in spirit for the loss of her own child. She summoned Moses and Aaron in the middle of the night, bid them leave Egypt, and asked them bring upon her a blessing.

While Pharaoh bemoaned the great personal and collective losses of Egypt, Pharaoh's step son began to gain support for his rule over Egypt. And thus Pharaoh's heart was once again hardened. Pharaoh rallied the Egyptians against the Israelites and ordered the chariots of Egypt to give chase. And the Israelites watched as Pharaoh and Pharaoh's army finally ceased when the walls of the sea closed and swallowed them mid pursuit.