Have you ever wondered?

B''H

Have you ever wondered why all the egyptian Kings were called Pharohs?

It all started a while back. There was this man named Rekaon. He was from Iraq. An extremely intelligent individual, knowledged in all sciences, art, and languages. He therefore decided to go speak to the Egyptian ruler at the time for a job. (At the time Eygpt was the most powerfull and richest country.)

When Rekaon arrived in Egypt, he asked the people there what he must do to meet the king. He also asked them what were their customs in this land.

When Rekaon finally reached the palace, he was dissapointed to be told that the king will only have an audience once a year, and it would not be until 10 months when he would finaly be able to see him. Pushing the subjects, to tell him more, Rekaon asked them if there was no other way. But to no avail. He would have to wait for 10 months to see the king.

Sad and in dispare Rekaon walked through the market place to see what job he could find there, until it would be time that he could speak to the king. He watched with interest how the people in the market did their business and decided to try it. He bought some fruits and opened up a booth in the market.

Business was difficult, and he did not sell enough to put food in his mouth. It was difficult as he did not know the local language.

Rekaon did not give up so easily though. He decided to work as an employee for a bigger business, and was only turned down until he arrived at the local university.

It was there that Rekaon found his place. He made many friends, some including big Generals in the Egyptian army.

Many professors in the university became jealous of Rekaon's popularity and smartness and ordered him to go back to where he came from. However the generals retained their friendship with him.

A while later Rekaon found out that at the time there was a city in Egypt where all the dead of Egypt were buried. He formed a plan! Setting up a border to the city Rekaon made a tax, the price totaling 200 gold coins. People had to pay this ransom in order to bury their dead. This caused him to become extremely rich an powerful, as he claimed to everyone that it was "by order of the king!"

Finaly the day came that the king left his palace. He was surprised when his people started telling him that they found it unjust what he had done to them that entire year. When he asked them what it was that he did, they explained to him about the buriel tax. Angrily the king demanded that the man responsible for this tax be brought to him.

However, Rekaon was smart. He was well prepared. He came to the king with stunning presants, strong horses, gold, silver, and precious gems, sparkeling and gleaming with all their beauty. He presented himself to the king bowing gracefully to the ground, dressed in the finest of garments.

The king was bewildered. "Who are you that you come to my land and you charge my people so much money, and then you come to me with all this finery?"

As Rekaon started to talk he impressed the king with his great intelect and words of wisdom. Pleased at this man's conduct the king hiered Rekaon as his Viceroy, on the condition that the tax on the dead would be removed.

The last thing the king did was change Rekaon's name to Pharoh. Rekaon means "empty" and Pharoh comes from the word Peraon which means "gatheriing". (This is in rememberance to the smart way he used to gather money and power.)

When the king of Egypt died the Egyptians anointed Pharoh as their king promising that forever they will remember his good deeds by calling all the kings after him, Pharoh.

Derived from Me'am Loez.
©Yermi Kurkus - Have you ever wondered