EPHREE (Egyptian W'h-jb-r'; Hebrew Hophra'; among the Greeks Apries or Uaphria). - Pharaoh of Egypt from 588 to 566 B.C., of the 26th dynasty (663–525), founded by Psammetico I (son of Nechao); he was the successor, if not the son, of Psammetico II. E. is mentioned in Ier. 44, 50; in several passages of the rest of Ier. and of Es. he is referred to, E. being a contemporary of Nabuchodonosor and of the last king of Judah, Sedecia.
He abandoned the policy of non-intervention in Asia hitherto followed, immediately entering into relations with the anti-Babylonian party, very powerful in Jerusalem, and inciting it to revolt against Nabuchodonosor. Judah, together with Feisela and Amena, took the field 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 caused E.’s hope to fade; to the Jews he gave the only real assistance of receiving in Egypt the fugitives who had escaped after the murder of Godolia. A military revolt, caused by the failure of his warlike undertakings and by the aid given to foreigners, made Amaais de facto pharaoh (569), and he became so de jure after the killing of E. (568).
Vincenzo M. Jacono