The word new does not necessarily mean that this was the next king in succession. Rather, the word indicates that this king would be different from his predecessors in policy and approach, particularly in his treatment of Israel (see Judges 5:8, where new is also used to indicate a contrast). After all, nothing is said about a new king when Pharaoh dies in Exodus 2:23, since the next Pharaoh continues the same treatment of Israel.¹

This is further supported by the phrase arose...over Egypt. The Hebrew expression is usually translated as arising against, attacking, or standing against (see Numbers 30:10; Deuteronomy 19:11; Deuteronomy 22:26; Deuteronomy 28:7; Judges 9:18, Judges 9:43; Judges 20:5; 1 Samuel 17:35;2 Samuel 18:31–32; 2 Kings 16:7; Isaiah 14:22; Isaiah 31:2; Jeremiah 44:29; Jeremiah 51:29; Amos 6:14; Amos 7:9; Obadiah 1:1–21; Psalm 3:2; Psalm 27:3; Psalm 40:3; Psalm 54:5; Psalm 86:14; Psalm 124:2).² Thus, this phrase could indicate that this Pharaoh began a new regime in Egypt, although the text does not clearly say. At the very least, it highlights that this king made a substantial change in policy and departed from the ways of his forebears. For example, the same phrase occurs in 2 Chronicles 21:4 to describe the succession of Jehoram who rejected the ways of his father Jehoshephat—he killed his brothers, whom his father had treated well (2 Chronicles 21:2–3) and did what was evil in God’s sight (2 Chronicles 17:3; 2 Chronicles 21:6).

For Israel, the rise of this new king marks the transition from a life of privilege in Egypt to a life of persecution and oppression from which only God will be able to deliver them.