Ramses* (Person) — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Name of 11 kings of the 19th and 20th Egyptian dynasties (also spelled Rameses). Ramses II reigned for some 67 years (c. 1290–1224 BC). He was known as Ramses the Great, mostly because of his extensive building activities, such as his mortuary temple at Thebes (the Ramasseum), the rock-cut temple of Abu Simbel in Nubia, and his additions to the temples of Karnak and Luxor. Pictured on his temple walls as a great military leader, he fought with the Hittites at Kadesh on the Orontes, where, because of a serious tactical blunder on his part, he nearly lost his life. The battle was at best a draw, but he depicted it as an Egyptian victory in the Ramasseum and Abu Simbel. His treaty with the Hittites is the earliest known international nonaggression pact. He has often been suggested as the pharaoh of the oppression (Ex 1:8-11), but this is improbable.

Show passage in OET: EXO 1:8–11

OET-RV EXO 1:8

8 Eventually a new king came to power in Mitsrayim who had never known Yosef

OET-RV EXO 1:9

9 and he told his people, “Listen, those descendants of Yisrael (Israel) are becoming more numerous and powerful than us.

OET-RV EXO 1:10

10 So, let’s deal wisely with them, in case they continue to multiply. Then if war was to break out, they could easily take the other side and fight against us, and then leave our country.”

OET-RV EXO 1:11

11 Then they appointed overseers to work them in slave gangs, and using them as forced labour, they built the store cities at Piton and Ra’meses for Par’oh (Pharaoh).

OET-LV EXO 1:8

8 And_he/it _rose _up a _king new over Miʦrayim who not he _knew DOM Yōşēf.

OET-LV EXO 1:9

9 And_he/it _said to people _of_his HERE the _people _of the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) is_numerous and_mighty more_than _us.

OET-LV EXO 1:10

10 Come_NOW let _us _deal _wisely to_him/it lest it _should _increase and_it _was if/because war they _will _happen and_ also it _it _will _be _added to those _of_who_hate _us and_it _will _fight against_us and_he/it _would _go _up from the_earth/land.

OET-LV EXO 1:11

11 And_they _appointed on/upon/above_him/it overseers _of slave _gangs so _as to_afflict _it with_their _forced _of_labour and_he/it _built cities _of stores for_Parˊoh DOM Pithom and_DOM Raˊməşēş.

Jump to OET EXO 1:8–11 section.

Ramses III (c. 1195–1124 BC), of the 20th dynasty, saved Egypt from an invasion by the Sea Peoples in a land and sea battle in the Nile Delta. He built a large mortuary temple complex and royal residence in the Theban area, at Medinet Habu. On the northern exterior wall of the temple area are the first known representations of a naval battle. Among the captives are the Peleset, who are believed to be Philistines. The exterior walls also bear excellent reliefs of lion and wild-bull hunts. From late in the reign of Ramses III comes the famous Harris Papyrus, which lists the benefactions of the king to Amon. Because of withheld wages in kind, workers in the royal necropolis went on strike. Similar strikes occurred in the times of Ramses IX and X. From the end of the reign of Ramses III come records of the court trial of a harem conspiracy in which Ramses III apparently was killed.

The other Ramessides were minor rulers who played no great part in history. The instability of the country is further illustrated by widespread looting of the royal tombs. A complicated and dubious investigation of these robberies was conducted in the reign of Ramses IX.