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Two Pharoahs

Question


Is Pharoah the same Pharoah that raised Moses?

Answer

According to the strict interpretation of the verse “And Pharoah died” stated in Parshat Shemot, Moshe was dealing with a new Pharoah and not the one that raised him. Rashi does bring a Midrash that states that Pharoah did not die rather he was afflicted with Leprosy, in which case it is the same guy.

Follow-up question

Question


Is there any significance to the fact that the Pharoah in Exodus is not named?

Thank you.

Answer

Many, many details of the stories are not found in the Biblical text, but are indeed found in the Midrash. There is a concept that it’s a reward to someone to be named in the Torah and that may explain the absence of his name.

The Midrash (oral tradition) does give futher details about him, including his name, how long he reigned, etc.

See this article.