2 Chronicles 14:9

WAR WITH ZERAH THE ETHIOPIAN, 2 Chronicles 14:9-15.

9. Zerah the Ethiopian belonged, probably, to the same dynasty as Shishak, (see note on 1 Kings 11:40; 1 Kings 14:25,) for the composition of his army of “the Ethiopians and the Lubims,” (2 Chronicles 16:8,) the same nations as composed the army of Shishak, (2 Chronicles 12:3,) proves him to have been an Egyptian, not, as some have thought, an Asiatic or Arabian king. He was known as the Ethiopian, doubtless, because he was such by birth, being, as Rawlinson says, the son-in-law, not the son, of his predecessor on the throne of Egypt. Hence he is most probably to be identified with Usarken II., (written also Osarchon,) the third king of the twenty-second dynasty, and the second after Shishak. His object in invading Judah was doubtless to recover to Egypt the cities which Asa had been fortifying, (2 Chronicles 14:6, note,) for Asa’s procedure had been virtually a rebellion against Egypt.

A thousand thousand An enormous army, but not larger than other Oriental monarchs have been known to bring into the field.

Came unto Mareshah This was one of the cities which Rehoboam had fortified, (2 Chronicles 11:8,) and which Shishak had probably captured. It lay, according to Robinson, (see note on Joshua 15:44,) on a hill a mile and a half south of Eleutheropolis, a spot admirably adapted for a fortress. Here the hill country of Judah borders on the great Philistine plain, and the vast Egyptian army might easily have advanced along the coast, and across the plain as far as Mareshah, without meeting much opposition.