Interesting Facts

• Magron became the Pharaoh of Egypt upon the death of his father.
• His father, the previous Pharaoh, commanded Joseph to act as a father and advisor to Magron.
• Although Magron sat on his father’s throne and became king, the governance of Egypt and its laws were placed in the hand of Joseph at the command of his father.
• All of Egypt, despite some initial resistance to a foreign ruler, consented to Joseph being king over them in terms of governance and authority.
• Magron reigned for forty years in Egypt.

Genealogy

• Magron was the son of the Pharaoh of Egypt who reigned before him.
• There is no mention in the provided sources of Magron having any marital connections or offspring.

Historical Context

Magron’s reign as Pharaoh occurred in the thirty-second year of the Israelites’ descent into Egypt, which was the seventy-first year of Joseph’s life. His ascension followed a period during which his father had entrusted significant authority and care over Egypt to Joseph. Consequently, even as Magron assumed the throne, the actual governance of Egypt, including its laws and affairs, remained under Joseph’s control, as per his father’s command. This demonstrates a unique political dynamic where the formal ruler, Magron, operated under the guidance and authority of Joseph, who effectively acted as the de facto ruler over Egypt and its surrounding territories. This era was marked by Joseph’s success in subduing Egypt’s enemies and maintaining peace, with the Israelites dwelling securely in the land. Magron’s reign also coincided with the later part of Bela’s reign over Edom and the subsequent conflict between the sons of Esau and the sons of Jacob.

Narrative

Magron’s story begins with his succession to the throne of Egypt following the death of his father. His father, recognizing Joseph’s wisdom and influence, had instructed Magron to be under Joseph’s care and counsel and had entrusted Joseph with the laws and governance of Egypt. As a result, throughout his forty-year reign, Magron, while holding the title of Pharaoh, operated under the significant authority of Joseph. Joseph effectively ruled over Egypt and its territories, including making war with enemies and collecting tribute, with Magron maintaining his position on the throne but under Joseph’s direction. The narrative emphasizes Joseph’s continued prominence and control over Egypt during Magron’s reign, highlighting the unusual situation of a Pharaoh delegating substantial governing power to a foreign official. Even though some Egyptians initially disliked the idea of a stranger ruling over them, Joseph’s influence and the prosperity of the land under his leadership ensured his continued authority. Magron’s role appears to be largely nominal in terms of active governance, overshadowed by Joseph’s established power and the late Pharaoh’s decree. After Joseph’s death, the narrative indicates a shift where Magron and the Egyptians began to exert their own rule over the children of Israel, suggesting a change in the power dynamics that had defined Magron’s reign.