2 Chronicles 14:9

Modern

Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah.

Traditional

And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.

Literal

And came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a thousand thousands, and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah.

Latin

Egressus est autem contra eos Zara Æthiops cum exercitu suo, decies centena millia, et curribus trecentis: et venit usque Maresa.

Hebrew

English

Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah.

Solomon prayed for the Lord to hear his people when they went into battle (2 Chronicles 6:34). In the battle against Zerah, God answered this prayer.
The term Cushite might refer to someone from southern Egypt (Nubia) or a Midianite area northeast of Aqabah (see Numbers 12:1; Habakkuk 3:7). However, several things suggest that Zerah was Egyptian:
- The mention of Libya in 2 Chronicles 16:8
- The battle's size (similar to Shishak's attack on Rehoboam in 2 Chronicles 12:3)
- Mareshah's location in western Judah suggest Zerah
He is otherwise unknown. He might have been a Nubian general sent by Osorkon I, the Libyan pharaoh who ruled Egypt between the tenth and fourteenth years of Asa, around 900 to 897 BC. Another view is that Shishak created a buffer state around Gerar, supported by Nubian mercenaries who invaded Judah. The account, however, only states that Asa and his armies chased the enemy south to Gerar and took a large amount of plunder, especially from the herdsmen living in tents around the cities.

Theme notes and profiles

2 Chronicles 16:8
Were not the Cushites and Libyans a vast army with many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand.
2 Chronicles 11:8
Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
2 Chronicles 12:2–3
In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem
Joshua 15:44
Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah—nine cities, along with their villages.
Micah 1:15
I will again bring a conqueror against you, O dweller of Mareshah. The glory of Israel will come to Adullam.
Ezekiel 30:5
Cush, Put, and Lud, and all the various peoples, as well as Libya and the men of the covenant land, will fall with Egypt by the sword.
Revelation 16:14
These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.
Isaiah 8:9–10
Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered!
2 Kings 19:9
Now Sennacherib had been warned about Tirhakah king of Cush: “Look, he has set out to fight against you.” So Sennacherib again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,

Zerah: Ethiopian commander who invaded Judah

Cush: Ancient region in Africa; associated with Egypt and Babylon Mareshah: A town in Judah; fortified by Rehoboam