Sheshonq I, pharaoh

Discover Sheshonq I, founder of the XXIInd Egyptian dynasty (945-924 BC), whose reign marked the return of Egypt as the dominant power in the Near East. Mentioned in the Bible as Shishak, around 925 BC he launched a vast military campaign against the kingdom of Judah and Israel under the reign of Rehoboam, plundering the treasures of Solomon's Temple. The monumental inscriptions at Karnak bear witness to this expedition, listing over 150 cities conquered in Palestine and the Levant. This page explores the Libyan pharaoh through Egyptian and biblical sources, comparing accounts from the Books of Kings and Chronicles with archaeological evidence. From the protection afforded to Jeroboam in exile to the devastating invasion of Jerusalem, follow the itinerary of this campaign that permanently weakened the Hebrew kingdoms. Between triumphal stelae and biblical accounts, discover how archaeology and Scripture come together to shed light on this pivotal moment in the history of the ancient Near East.