Question: .

Did Pharaoh die during the Exodus or just his army?

-Mark

Answer:

Dear Mark,

Exodus 14:28 says that not one of the entire army of Pharaoh survived the Red Sea. It says nothing of Pharaoh. Some argue that Pharaoh would be included. But the Bible does not address Pharaoh specifically.

Popularly, in this past generation, many think of this scene from the movie, "The Ten Commandments" - and Pharaoh, in Cecil B. DeMille's version, survived.

Some who wish to debate the Bible on this point want to go to history and find a time in Egyptian history when the entire army was wiped out - and when the line of Pharaoh abruptly changed. If they cannot, they reason, the Bible's claims are myth. I have seen and read a great deal of speculation on this topic - but Egyptian history is not easily reconciled - either simply on the basis of archaeology and other sciences, or reconciled with the Bible. There is debate among historians who believe the Bible record as to the exact identity of the Pharaoh of the Exodus.

Hope this helps.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht