Diagram of So king of Egypt: For Advanced Studies


by koot van wyk (DLitt et Phil, ThD)

Kyungpook National University

Sangju Campus

South Korea

conjoint researcher for Avondale College

Australia


The following diagram is for the sake of Advanced Studies on the chronology of the 23rd to 25th dynasties of Egypt.

The data by M. Bierbrier, W. Shea AUSS 1992, Kenneth Kitchen 1973, A. Spalinger, W. Emery 1965 and the Lexikon der Ägyptologie, are all necessary ingredients for a better understanding of the period. A number of issues must be kept in mind:


1. The pharaohs from Shabaka to Tirhaka have regnal year listed but we are not always sure of a number of issues:

(i) whether the co-regency years were included with the sole reigning years

(ii) whether the first year was during the death of the last year of the previous ruler, whether accesssion years are included in the total or not.


2. Tefnakht's first regnal year is calculated starting from the end of Tirhaka reign working back to two possible dates: 728 BCE (Emery 1965) or 725 BCE (using Spalinger's reckoning as indicated in the diagram).


3. Piankhi was a ruler of Egypt but unfortunately a ruler of Southern Egypt.


4. Tefnakht was an expasionistic ruler or liberator but he came from the West. Unfortunately, it seems, according to the diagram that he became expansionistic at the same time that Shalmanezer V became expansionistic, namely in 725 BCE when Samaria was besieged.


5. The Bible in 2 Kings 17:1-4 indicate that it was before 725 BCE that Hoshea was in a relationship with pharaoh So. This would rule out Tefnakht who started only in 725 BCE or rule out Piankhi since he was situated only in the South.


6. Sheshonk V last years overlaps with the crownprince years of Hoshea in the beginning (see the diagram).


7. Despite various attempts by scholars to look at Sais, Osorkon IV, Shabaka, Tefnakht as So of Egypt, it seems more certain, based on linguistics, Egyptian chronology, Biblical chronology and internal textual context to favor Sheshonk V as pharaoh So of 2 Kings 17:1-4.


So Diagram for Advanced Studies.jpg