Did Pharaoh drown with his army during
the Exodus of Israel out of Egypt?

Popular media, books, and many retellings of the story of the Exodus state or imply that the Egyptian Pharaoh in pursuit of the fleeing Israelites was drowned. An irrelevant question or issue? Not quite. Without a doubt, scriptures portray Pharaoh's army as being drowned [at the Red Sea or Sea of Reeds?], but as for this unrepentant ruler he most likely lived to face the shame of defeat. While historical sources cannot be the final authority, this also squares with a timeline determination of which Pharaoh was involved, also showing that he reigned for years following. That Pharaoh lived on also provides further reason why there would be virtually non-existent mention of such an ignoble event in historical records - he would certainly not want it remembered. Typically pharaoh's only recorded their victories and successes anyway.

To make this examination more readable, apart from the main account in Exodus 14, the entireties of all passages being referenced are in the end notes. Make sure to read them for context.

Exodus 14:23-30 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt." 26 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen." 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen - the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. 29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. (NIV)

So who drowned? Some facts:

1. All Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea (Exodus 14:23

2. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen - the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.

3. Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore.

We are not told that Israel saw Pharaoh's body dead on the shore. In these three summary excerpts it is clear that only Pharaoh's horsemen and charioteers followed the Israelites into the sea. This cannot be construed to say that Pharaoh himself went in, or even that all Pharaoh's soldiers went in. It is highly probable that only the fastest moving units, those utilizing horses, were sent, while those on foot stayed with Pharaoh. Virtually every army of that day had foot soldiers too. The statement that "not one of them survived" cannot be taken apart from its context which is solely in reference to the chariots and horsemen who had followed the Israelites in. Undoubtedly the loss of this best and fastest part of Pharaoh's army - in its entirety - would have been a devastating blow to Pharaoh and all Egypt. Having survivors who witnessed such a supernatural and resounding defeat would have made sure that Egypt knew clearly that it was the hand of God that had judged them.

Of course, if God revealed more detail anywhere else through His word, there is the possibility that we could find out Pharaoh was included in this mass drowning. A more thorough search of Scriptures is necessary.

4. The Song of Moses, sung immediately after the Exodus (Exodus 15:1-5 End 1), states that Pharaoh's chariots, his army, and "the best" of Pharaoh's officers were drowned. The mere fact that a qualifier "the best" is used, presupposes that some were not. It would be logical to infer that these would have been those who had not followed the Israelites into the sea.

5. Psalms 78 End 2 and Psalms 106 End 2 celebrate God's actions during the Exodus. The first states that the sea "engulfed their enemies" and the second that "the waters covered their adversaries", followed by "not one of them survived." By context, the "not one of them" must be understood to be in reference to the enemies which followed them into the sea - as such not making any pronouncement on those who would have stayed on the other shore (including Pharaoh).

6. Psalms 136 End 3 becomes the only passage which, in some translations, directly supports the idea that Pharaoh himself was drowned in the sea. Some English translators such as the NIV and the HCSB state that God "swept" or "hurled" Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, while others such as the KJV and NASU use a less specific statement that God "overthrew" Pharaoh and his army.

Item six requires more examination, because if the NIV and HCSB's rendering are correct the rest of our examination would be unnecessary and the conclusion unquestionably that Pharaoh drowned. But this is not so. The Hebrew word, so translated, is "na'ar". It does not mean to drown or tumble into the water as some have asserted, rather it simply means "to shake off" or "shake out". Usage in Nehemiah 5:13 provides example:

Nehemiah 5:13 I also shook out [na'ar] the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake out [na'ar] of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out [na'ar] and emptied!" (NIV)

So too does Isaiah:

Isaiah 52:2 Shake off [na'ar] your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion. (NIV)

To shake off a ruler, while it could imply his death, does not exclusively mean he is completely gone. Rather it means his yoke of authority and influence has been broken and he is no longer able to impact you. The rendering "overthrew" becomes a good translation of this, without reading in a drowning death where no other evidence supports it (other than tradition and popular portrayals which may have inadvertently caused translator bias elsewhere). God shook off [overthrew] the Egyptian army that went into the sea, by drowning, but he also shook off [overthrew] the Egyptian army and Pharaoh who stayed on the other shore. Context establishes how. Consider one verse of the original passage again:

Exodus 14:27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept [na'ar or overthrew!] them into the sea. (NIV)

Ultimately Psalms 136 simply says that God overthrew (or shook off) the Egyptians, including Pharaoh, during their pursuit of the Israelites - without saying who drowned!

7. Deuteronomy 6:20-23 End 4 also speaks of the Exodus events, pronouncing that God "sent miraculous signs and wonders... upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole land". This provides no specifics as to what signs and wonders applied to each, all of which must be established by other passages.

8. Deuteronomy 11:2-4 End 4 speaks of what God did "in the heart of Egypt, both to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his whole country" then "what he did to the Egyptian army, to its horse and chariots, how he overwhelmed them with the waters of the Red Sea as they were pursuing". This passage clearly separates what was done to the nation and pharaoh from what happened to the pursuing army which followed the Israelites into the Sea. For the latter, all ended up dead. For the former, including Pharaoh, other than their firstborns (as established by other passages), they lived to be witnesses of what God had done.

9. The one New Testament passage that directly speaks of this event, in Hebrews 11:29 End 5, says that the Egyptians drowned when they tried to follow the people through the Sea. Once again, no additional detail is provided, so all earlier passages provide the assumed context.

This examination of all relevant Scriptures shows no proof that Pharaoh was drowned and, in fact, tends to show otherwise.

Lastly, if Pharaoh has been killed during the Exodus, it is much more probable that Scriptures would have made specific and pronounced notice of it, in the book of Exodus or in the other books of Moses. For example, all through the end of the exodus journey and the conquests of Canaan much is made over the specific destruction of the kings of their enemies as they were defeated (i.e. Deuteronomy 3:3; Numbers 21:34-35; Joshua 12:9-24). Such a prominent figure as Pharaoh would have certainly warranted at least the same. Scripture's silence here supports the historical evidence that the Pharaoh of the Exodus lived on as a testament to his defeat by the God of Israel.

End Notes (and referenced passages)

1. The Song of Moses, which was composed immediately following their miraculous deliverance through the sea.

Exodus 15:1-5 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: "I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. 2 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3 The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name. 4 Pharaoh's chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh's officers are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone. (NIV)

2. Two Psalms celebrating God's actions during the Exodus.

Psalms 78:52-53 But he brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep through the desert. 53 He guided them safely, so they were unafraid; but the sea engulfed their enemies. (NIV)

Psalms 106:9-12 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert. 10 He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them. 11 The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived. 12 Then they believed his promises and sang his praise. (NIV)

3. The one Psalm, indeed the one primary passage, needed more scrutiny due to the way it has been translated. For this reason it appears below from a few different versions.

Psalms 136:10-15 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt. His love endures forever. 11 and brought Israel out from among them. His love endures forever. 12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever. 13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunder. His love endures forever. 14 and brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever. 15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever. (NIV)

Psalms 136:10-15 To Him who smote the Egyptians in their firstborn, For His loving kindness is everlasting, 11 And brought Israel out from their midst, For His loving kindness is everlasting, 12 With a strong hand and an outstretched arm, For His loving kindness is everlasting. 13 To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder, For His loving kindness is everlasting, 14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His loving kindness is everlasting; 15 But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His loving kindness is everlasting. (NASU)

Psalms 136:10-15 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: 11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: 12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. 13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: 14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. (KJV)

Psalms 136:10-15 Give thanks to the one who killed the firstborn males in Egypt-because his mercy endures forever. 11 He brought Israel out from among them-because his mercy endures forever. 12 with a mighty hand and a powerful arm-because his mercy endures forever. 13 Give thanks to the one who divided the Red Sea-because his mercy endures forever. 14 He led Israel through the middle of it-because his mercy endures forever. 15 He swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea-because his mercy endures forever. (GOD'S WORD)

Psalms 136:10-15 He struck the firstborn of the Egyptians. His love is eternal. 11 and brought Israel out from among them. His love is eternal. 12 with a strong hand and outstretched arm. His love is eternal. 13 He divided the Red Sea. His love is eternal. 14 and led Israel through, His love is eternal. 15 but hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His love is eternal. (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

4. Additional passages in the Law of Moses

Deuteronomy 6:20-23 In the future, when your son asks you, "What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?" 21 tell him: "We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the Lord sent miraculous signs and wonders - great and terrible - upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers. (NIV) [Also Deuteronomy 7:18]

Deuteronomy 11:2-4 Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm; 3 the signs he performed and the things he did in the heart of Egypt, both to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his whole country; 4 what he did to the Egyptian army, to its horses and chariots, how he overwhelmed them with the waters of the Red Sea as they were pursuing you, and how the Lord brought lasting ruin on them. (NIV)

5. A New Testament Reference.

Hebrews 11:29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. (NIV)

This passage in Hebrews is the only direct New Testament reference, though there are indirect or more general passages which provide absolutely no specifics. For example:

Acts 7:36 He led them out of Egypt and did wonders and miraculous signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the desert. (NIV)

(c) 2008 Brent MacDonald/LTM. Duplication is permitted for non-profit purposes, as long as the source is cited.