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ZERAH

(Heb. zeraḥ) (also ZOHAR)

1. An Edomite, son of Reuel and grandson of Esau. His descendants became a subtribe of Edom (Gen. 36:13, 17; 1 Chr. 1:37).

2. An Edomite king, father of Jobab (Gen. 36:33; 1 Chr. 1:44).

3. A twin son of Judah and Tamar (Gen. 38:30; 46:12); founder of one of the subtribes of Judah (Num. 26:20; 1 Chr. 9:6; Neh. 11:24), and the ancestor of Achan (Josh. 7).

4. A son of Simeon, who founded one of the subtribes of Simeon (Num. 26:13; 1 Chr. 4:24). At Gen. 46:10; Exod. 6:15 he is called Zohar.

5.-6. Two Levites, a descendant of Gershom (1 Chr. 6:21[MT 6]) and a Kohathite (v. 41[26]).

7. “Zerah the Cushite” (MT), who attacked Judah with a large army but was routed by King Asa of Judah (2 Chr. 14:9-15[8-14]). Cush (also referred to as Nubia or Ethiopia) was a black African nation to the south of Egypt, and Cushite soldiers frequently served in the Egyptian army. This individual was probably a commander under Pharaoh Osorkon. Some scholars, however, argue that this Zerah was a Midianite, an Arab, or a Bedouin, noting the mention of camels and citing Hab. 3:7 as a Cushite/Midianite connection. However, the army of Zerah does not come riding on camels, like Bedouins, Arabs, or Midianites, but rather on chariots, like Egyptians and Cushites (cf. 2 Chr. 12:3); also, the camels of Zerah’s forces are not listed with the army, but with the booty, apparently captured by Zerah as he advanced through Arabia and recaptured by Asa after Zerah’s defeat.

Bibliography. J. D. Hays, “The Cushites: A Black Nation in the Bible,” BSac 153 (1996): 396-409.

J. Daniel Hays

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ZERAH

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)