Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SO

(Heb. sôʾ)

A “king of Egypt” to whom Hoshea, the last king of Israel, sent messengers before rebelling against Shalmaneser V of Assyria (2 Kgs. 17:4). What sort of help he received from So, if any, is unknown, as is the identity of the Egyptian. So may refer to the city of Sais in the western Nile Delta, since this city became strong under Tefnakht during the late 8th century b.c.e. The name may be an abbreviation of Egyp. nswt, “king,” or an abridgment of Osorkon (IV) of the 22nd Dynasty who ruled the eastern Nile Delta at the time of Hoshea. This last suggestion is the best, since the Bible indicates that Israel’s contact with Egypt during the late 8th century was with Tanis (Zoam) in the eastern Delta (Isa. 19:11-13; 30:4). Because Osorkon ruled in the eastern Delta, he would have been contacted by Hoshea for help.

Bibliography. G. W. Ahlström, The History of Ancient Palestine (Minneapolis, 1993); K. Kitchen, The Third Intermediate Period in Egypt (1100-650 b.c.), 2nd ed. (Warminster, 1986); D. F. Redford, Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times (Princeton, 1992).

Paul S. Ash

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SO

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)