Genesis 42:15

by the life of Pharaoh An Egyptian form of oath, in the sense of "as sure as Pharaoh is alive to punish, or avenge." Dillmann says, "the oath is very suitable here, as the Egyptians honoured their kings, ὡς πρὸς ἀλήθειαν ὄντας θεούς (Diod. i. 90)," i.e. as truly divine. The oath by the life of the king is found in an Egyptian inscription of the 20th century b.c.