Kings of Israel’s Neighbours

In addition to the kings of Israel and Judah, the Bible also mentions kings in the surrounding nations. Egypt’s pharaoh is often mentioned, but the kings of the Philistines, Moab, Edom, Ammon and Aram also play an important part.

The Egyptian monarchy was a divine institution, and the pharaoh was regarded as a deity.
The pharaohs in the biblical accounts rarely have names. This makes it difficult to connect the biblical accounts with extra-biblical information. The best-known pharaoh mentioned in the Bible is Pharaoh Neco II (2 Kings 23:29). He was defeated by King Nebuchadnezzar at Carchemish in 605 BC.

The Philistines were a people that lived along Israel’s coast. Their area consisted of five city states, each with its own king: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron. They therefore had a different form of government from Israel and Judah.
No names of Philistine kings are given in the Bible.

The Moabites, the Edomites and the Ammonites were related to the Israelites.
The names of a few kings of the Moabites are mentioned in the Bible, including King Eglon. In Judges 3:14 we are told that the Israelites had to serve Eglon for 18 years, until Ehud killed him. From extra-biblical sources we also know King Mesha who, according to 2 Kings 3:4, was also a sheep breeder.
The Edomites had a king of their own, but for a long time they had to pay tribute to the Israelite monarchy. The Edomites are given a negative portrayal in the Bible: after the exodus from Egypt, the king of Edom refused to allow the Israelites to pass through his country.
The Ammonites also have a bad reputation in the Bible. Thus, King Nahash attempted to conquer the city of Jabesh, but Saul liberated the inhabitants.

The kings of Aram play an important role in the Bible. There was often war between Aram and the Northern Kingdom of Israel, for instance in 1 Kings 20 where King Benhadad attacks King Ahab. According to 2 Kings 16:7 the Israelites eventually enter into an alliance with the king of Aram, when they are attacked by the Assyrians.