Did Pharaoh die in the Red Sea?

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

Footnotes

Mechilta Beshalach 2:6.

Yalkut Shimoni Exodus 176.

By Menachem Posner

Rabbi Menachem Posner serves as staff editor at Chabad.org, the world’s largest Jewish informational website. He has been writing, researching, and editing for Chabad.org since 2006, when he received his rabbinic degree from Central Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch. He resides in Chicago, Ill., with his family.

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31 Comments

Anonymous October 12, 2021

I have a Torah with a modern commentary, and it says in there that Pharaoh did indeed survive. I think this makes sense, because it explains why G-d "hardened Pharaoh's heart" so that Pharaoh himself could see the truth with his own eyes. Why would G-d put Pharaoh through all of that just to have him killed in the end? I think Pharaoh needed to see it for himself so that he could understand and tell others about what he had witnessed. Reply

Muaz Bhat Canada August 28, 2020

The Pharaoh, Haman, and their army in chariots pursuing the fleeing children of Israel drowned in the Red Sea as the parted water closed up on them. The Pharaoh's submission to God at the moment of death and total destruction was rejected but his dead body was saved as a lesson for posterity and he was mummified. Reply

Pst.Hanson Kerkulah Liberia August 20, 2019

Ex. 14:6-9. So he sent for his chariot and took his army with him. He took six hundred elite chariots and all of Egypt’s other chariots with captains on all of them. The Lord made Pharaoh, Egypt’s king, stubborn, and he chased the Israelites, who were leaving confidently. The Egyptians, including all of Pharaoh’s horse-drawn chariots, his cavalry, and his army, chased them and caught up with them as they were camped by the sea, by Pi-hahiroth in front of Baal-zephon.
This clearly mean that king pharaoh himself went with the army but in Exodus 14:28 make us to understand that the entire army of pharaoh not one of them survive .
Reference scripture. Psalm 136:15.
This say that the Lord swept Pharaoh and his army into the red Sea. Reply

Rachael April 18, 2021

in response to Pst.Hanson Kerkulah:

Thank you for the truth! Reply

tina Laguna Hills May 28, 2019

Is there historical documents or evidence of a large drop in population in Egypt after the biblical Exodus? Reply

Coty Rivera Kerman August 12, 2020

in response to tina :

This is a great question. I would like to know this as well? Is there any historical records with the Egyptians claiming this event taking place? Reply

Jo Anne November 22, 2013

Did pharaoh die at the red sea? In Exodus 15:19, It says, For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea,and the Lord brought again the waters of the sea upon them... some people say this leaves room for doubt. Looking for a more definitive answer, we found psalm 136 : 15, But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: ... Reply

Richard C Namibia April 12, 2020

in response to Jo Anne:

We see there are three references sited here, of which two do not state that Pharaoh himself was in the attack and one suggests he may have been in the attack.

1. "The Egyptians, including all of Pharaoh’s horse-drawn chariots, his cavalry, and his army, chased them and caught up with them as they..."
2. "For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea,and the Lord brought again the waters..."
3. "But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red (Reed) sea:..."

Two are historic records and the third is a poem or song of praise, referring to that event.
Such a composition is quite entitled to contain any amount of poetic licence to fit the tone or rhythm.

How is it that we decide this evidence (2pro : 1con) is more in favour of Pharaoh being part of the attack? Reply

Pastor Hanson kerkulah Liberia April 13, 2020

in response to Jo Anne:

Thanks so much for your view Reply

Anonymous Tamuning, Guam USA April 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? Reply

Anonymous Uttarakhand India June 20, 2017

in response to Anonymous:

Can archaeologists tell who destroyed the wall of Jericho? And mIght the Torah would have been written after 9th bce....... Reply

Lynne Israel February 2, 2018

in response to Anonymous :

Joshua Ben nun but it's possible earthquake Reply

rabbi 30 years brooklyn, ny April 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 Reply

Anonymous n/a, n/a April 24, 2011

i'm sorry, #1 but the red sea is not the dead sea. Reply

Anonymous Peoria, Illinoise April 24, 2011

Correction Contrary to popular belief, it is not the "Red Sea" that the Jews crossed but the "Reed Sea." Reply

Richard C Namibia April 12, 2020

in response to Anonymous:

I still need to be convinced that Pharaoh's whole army was utterly destroyed, and all perished in a few inches of water.

Remembering that a special priesthood was ordained to copy the text of the Torah, letter for letter, to preserve the text as accurately as humanly possible, I have to ask:
Are we that inclined toward disbelief that we have forgotten how to read? The text states clearly that the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground and there was a wall of water to the left and to the right. How do we equate that narrative with wading through a few inches of water?

Guys, anyone is free to disbelieve what is written. If you don't like it, leave it. It's not nice to create a new narrative to suit our prejudices and then look like fools. Rather be like the fool who says in his heart, there is no God, and walk away. (Ps 53). Reply

Katya Orlando, FL, USA April 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. Reply

ari chicago, IL April 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. Reply

Anonymous Abuja, Nigeria March 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. Reply

dnix September 30, 2017

in response to Anonymous:

The Red Sea and the Dead Sea are at two different locations and two different bodies of water. Look at a map
The Pharaoh's Army died in the Red Sea, Reply

Terry North East, MD 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. Reply

Richard C Windhoek April 20, 2020

in response to Terry:

Moses was there and composed most of the Torah.
David was not there and composed a song, praising God's greatness.
I'd rather give a little more credence to the original by Moses. Reply

Anonymous Suffern, NY via jewishsuffern.com April 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/
/_\ Reply

Richard C Windhoek April 20, 2020

in response to Anonymous:

I think the idea was to teach Pharaoh a lesson that he would never forget. This appears to have happened. Him dying in the Red Sea would not have served any purpose.

Further, the firstborn is the child who is to inherit the greater bulk of the father's wealth and status, after his death.

Also, Pharaoh's father had already died and his inheritance and status had already passed on to him. So, he was no longer a firstborn, who would inherit, but one who was planning to leave the wealth and status to his own firstborn. Reply

Anonymous Dallas, Texas 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. Reply

Petros June 6, 2008

Of course, we don't have all the extrabiblical records. We don't have knowledge of many whole patches of history except from updated archives, based on earlier records later gone missing. We don't know for certain how many pharoahs in all there were, nor when, nor how long they reigned, nor details for all of those known. We can't say there weren't such records. Perhaps some of their myths fossilize such things which were looked on with disbelief later.

As to the view of Rabbi Menachem Posner contradicting Scripture, George, you didn't specify what view you speak of - he mentioned that there are differing opinions, and never told us which he prefers. Reply

George April 29, 2008

To Rabbi Menachem Posner in all due respect but according to scripture you are in error about what really happened to Pharaoh. The scripture doesn't support your belief. Reply

MichelleKGross United States of America April 3, 2020

in response to George:

Nu, so what's a midrash, really? The midrash is a possible explanation of what isn't stated explicitly in the text. No where does it say, "Pharoah was dead" or "The people of Egypt mourned the loss of their leader." Reply

Anonymous Round Rock, tx April 25, 2008

Wouldn't there be some egyptian record stating if the pharaoh drowned in a miraculous event or disappeared? Reply

Anonymous Az February 26, 2021

in response to Anonymous:

Probably not they had no reason to, if we believe that the exodus is a true story why record it when it utterly humiliated the Pharaoh, they would often erase parts of history they didn't like, keep in mind Hatshepsut. Reply

Richard Coomer Windhoek April 18, 2021

in response to Anonymous:

I'm still wondering if Akhenaten was not the Pharaoh in question. He was one of those whose story his successors tried to erase from history. He was also the only Pharaoh who implemented a monotheistic belief system. I know the timeline doesn't fit the mainstream narrative, but there are numerous timeline discrepancies that don't fit, that no-one can truly say they have the monopoly on that.
Could it have been that Akhenaten had survived and witnessed the merciless defeat of his army and therefore had to acknowledge the superiority of the one God of the Jews, even if he didn't acknowledge Him by name? Reply

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