Merenptah
(Baenrehotephirmaat)
1213-1203 B.C.
19th Dynasty
The fourth king of the 19th Dynasty was in his fifties when he assumed the throne. His father,
Ramesses, was long-lived and outlived his first 13 sons. Merenptah, the fourteenth son, was
militarily active while a prince. Famine had driven the Sea Peoples and the Libyans across the
Egyptian borders. Egypt retaliated with vengeance, overcoming the threat. The battle is
recorded at Karnak. The Israel Stela is associated with Merenptah. The stela records a
skirmish in Palestine and mentions Israel. This is the only known mention of Israel in Egyptian
monuments, and confirms that Israel was established in their own domain at the time of
Merenptahs reign. Merenptah's tomb is in the Valley of the Kings.
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