Shoshenq I (Egypt)

Egyptian Pharaoh Shoshenq I, identified with the biblical Shishak, invaded the southern Levant during the reign of Rehoboam, shortly after the split between the northern Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah. The Bible says Shishak came against Jerusalem and took treasures from the Temple and royal palace. The event shows that after Solomon’s kingdom divided, Judah became vulnerable to foreign powers. Shoshenq’s campaign is also important because it is one of the earliest cases where a biblical event involving Israel/Judah is connected to a major external inscription.

The main evidence is the Bubastite Portal inscription at Karnak, where Shoshenq lists many places in the southern Levant that he claimed to have subdued. The list includes towns in regions connected to Israel and Judah, though Jerusalem itself is not clearly listed, which is why scholars debate the exact route and purpose of the campaign.