Bible Figure
Necho II
Egyptian pharaoh
Necho II was the Egyptian pharaoh who killed King Josiah at Megiddo, intervened in Judah's succession, and later lost control of the region to Babylon.
Biography
Second Kings 23 and 2 Chronicles 35-36 describe Pharaoh Necho marching north toward the Euphrates. Josiah confronted him at Megiddo and was mortally wounded. Necho later deposed Josiah's son Jehoahaz, imposed tribute on Judah, and installed Eliakim, renaming him Jehoiakim. Jeremiah 46 records that Necho's army was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon at Carchemish in Jehoiakim's fourth year.
Biblical Significance
Necho II is a major external ruler in the final decades of Judah. His actions at Megiddo ended Josiah's reign, reshaped Judah's monarchy, and formed part of the geopolitical transition from Egyptian to Babylonian dominance.