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Did Pharaoh die in the Red Sea?


By Menachem Posner

Question:

Did Pharaoh accompany his army when they went after the Israelites? If so, did he die with them?

Answer:

We read in Exodus 14 that Pharaoh personally led his army against the Jews.

There are differing opinions in the Midrash1 concerning his fate. Some say that he drowned in the Red Sea together with his army, while others opine that he survived the miraculous event. He survived in order to retell a firsthand account of the miracles and wonders that G‑d performed.

According to one Midrash,2 he made his way to Nineveh, Assyria, where he became king—the same king who when hearing the prophet Jonah's message from G‑d foretelling Nineveh's destruction, encouraged all his subjects to repent in order to avert the divine decree. Apparently he had learned his lesson.

Wishing you a happy and kosher Passover!

Yours truly,

Rabbi Menachem Posner
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FOOTNOTES
1.

Mechilta Beshalach 2:6.
2.

Yalkut Shimoni Exodus 176.

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Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: Apr 25, 2011
Before the edict was made, first born male children were the ones included. Those who were female or already adults weren't included.

What gets me is how it took two generations to rebuild the male population so they could attack the walled city of Jericho.
And how come archaeologists didn't find any evidence there had ever been a wall around Jericho in those days? That walled citieds didn't exist until the 8th and 9th century BCE.Etcaogigfht and not included as children.

Could it be that the Torah was actually written in the or 9th BCE?
Posted By Anonymous, Tamuning, Guam USA

Posted: Apr 24, 2011
:P
most of you remind me of a friend i have, who considers himself knowledgeable in medicine, simply because he reads the health section in the readers digest :P
Posted By rabbi 30 years, brooklyn, ny

Posted: Apr 24, 2011
i'm sorry, #1
but the red sea is not the dead sea.
Posted By Anonymous, n/a, n/a

Posted: Apr 24, 2011
Correction
Contrary to popular belief, it is not the "Red Sea" that the Jews crossed but the "Reed Sea."
Posted By Anonymous, Peoria, Illinoise

Posted: Apr 24, 2011
DID PHAROAH DIE?
In the Hebrew Scriptures it clearly states that HaShem took the wheels off of the chariots Himself. Guess He doesn't like it when a whole army goes after His people. He did intervene then and He has intervened since then. Look at all of the wars perpetrated upon Israel and how many have they lost? Oh, that's right . . . NONE! Hmmmmm . . . Why waste time debating if Pharoah died or not? The Holy One of Israel lives! That's what your focus should be: that He lives and desires a personal relationship with you. Because, trust me, you are going to need it in the days ahead.
Posted By Katya, Orlando, FL, USA

Posted: Apr 24, 2011
"And He threw Pharaoh and his host into the Sea"
pharoah was in the sea but obviosly he didnt drown another miracle) according to that opinion in the midrash.
Posted By ari, chicago, IL

Posted: Mar 30, 2011
Pharoah and Red Sea.
On my Philosopy, i thought the Bible made us understand that Pharoah gave out his chariote and soldiers or Army to go after the israelites(Exodus 14:1ff). This demostrated that Pharoah did not die. It was only the Army and chariote of pharoah that sank in to the red sea which is know as Dead sea. Pharoah life was spared in order to go and testify the mightywork of G-d.
Posted By Anonymous, Abuja, Nigeria

Posted: June 14, 2010
Pharaoh
Tehillim - Psalms - Chapter 136:15
"And He threw Pharaoh and his host into the Sea of Reeds, for His kindness is eternal."

According to David, Pharaoh died with his host.
Posted By Terry, North East, MD

Posted: Apr 8, 2009
Pharaoh dying in the sea
Actually, my question is how did Pharaoh get to live long enough to worry about the Red Sea? I read that he was himself a firstborn, so why didn't he die on the same night as all the other firstborns, since G-d said "I will kill ALL firstborns ... even of the flock and of the herd... etc."

Howard Mark

\o/
/_\
Posted By Anonymous, Suffern, NY
via jewishsuffern.com

Posted: June 6, 2008
The Rabbi Is Not Contradicting Scripture
It should be noted that the rabbi is only quoting the Midrash regarding the fate of Paro at the Sea of Reeds--not Torah. However, if one closely reads the Torah, the text never directly states that he drowned--only his horse is mentioned.
Posted By Anonymous, Dallas, Texas



 


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