EPHREE (Egyptian W'h-jb-r'; Hebrew Ephra'u', by the Greeks Apries or Uap'hris). - Pharaoh of Egypt from 588 to 566 B.C., of the 26th dynasty (663-525), founded by Psammetico I (son of Nechao); he succeeded, if not as son, Psammetico II. He is mentioned by Jer. 44, 30; in several other places in Jeremiah. He is also referred to in Ezekiel, since Ephree was contemporary with Nabuchodonosor and the last king of Judah, Sedecia.
He abandoned the policy of non-interference in Asia, which had been followed until then, immediately entering into relations with the pro-Babylonian party, which was very strong in Jerusalem, and stirring up its spirits to revolt against Nabuchodonosor. Judah, along with Phoenicia and Ammon, aligned itself against the king of Babylon; but the city of Jerusalem, after 18 months of siege, fell on the 9th day of 'ab in the 11th year of Sedecia (587).
The destruction of the Kingdom of Judah dashed Ephree's hopes, as he gave the Jews the only real assistance of sheltering the fugitives who had escaped to Egypt after the murder of Godolia. A military revolt, due to the failure of his military enterprises and to his support of foreigners, elected Amasis as Pharaoh in fact (569), who became such by right after the killing of Ephree (566).