Merneptah II

Merneptah II was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who reigned around 1213 to 1203 BCE, during the Nineteenth Dynasty. He is notably recognized for his military campaigns, particularly against the Libyans and other neighboring peoples. Merneptah is also famous for the "Merneptah Stele," which contains one of the earliest known references to Israel as a people, indicating their presence in Canaan at that time. His reign marked a period of stability and relative prosperity, but it also faced challenges, including invasions and internal strife, which affected the later years of the dynasty.