Zerah זֶ֫רַח
Ethiopian commander who invaded Judah
Who is Zerah in the Bible?
Zerah was an Ethiopian (or Cushite) military commander who led a massive invasion against the kingdom of Judah during the reign of King Asa, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 14:9. His army reportedly numbered over one million men along with 300 chariots and advanced to Mareshah before facing Asa's forces in the Valley of Zephathah. When King Asa called upon God for deliverance, the Lord routed the Ethiopian army, and Asa's forces pursued them as far as Gerar, capturing great plunder. Though scholars debate Zerah's exact identity, with some suggesting he may have been the Egyptian pharaoh Usarken II or an Arabian leader, his defeat stands as a significant demonstration of God's power and faithfulness to those who trust in Him.
Biography
Zerah the Ethiopian (or Cushite) was a military commander who led a massive invasion force against Judah during the reign of King Asa. According to 2 Chronicles 14, Zerah's army numbered over a million men and included 300 chariots. They advanced as far as Mareshah before encountering Asa's forces in the Valley of Zephathah. Asa called upon the Lord for help, and the Ethiopians were defeated and pursued as far as Gerar. The exact identity of Zerah is uncertain. Some scholars suggest he may have been Usarken II, an Egyptian pharaoh, while others propose he was an Arabian leader. Whoever he was, his defeat was a significant victory for Judah and a demonstration of God's power on behalf of His people.
In Scripture
1 biblical book2 Chronicles 1 verse
- 2 Chronicles 14:9
"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."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | זֶ֫רַח | zeraḥ | Zerach , the name of three Israelites, also of an Idumaean and an Ethiopian prince |