Zerah (the Ethiopian)
Peopleâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
The invasion led by Zerah the Ethiopian against King Asa is accepted by most modern scholars as a historical event, with the name Zerah potentially being a corruption of the Egyptian pharaoh Usarkon.
What is the meaning of Zerah (the Ethiopian) in the Bible?
The invasion led by Zerah the Ethiopian against King Asa is accepted by most modern scholars as a historical event, with the name Zerah potentially being a corruption of the Egyptian pharaoh Usarkon.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Zerah's invasion clarifies the geopolitical tensions in the region and demonstrates how external military threats influenced the religious reforms and military strategies of the Kingdom of Judah.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Zerah (the Ethiopian) in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Zerah (the Ethiopian) clarify?
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.