Difference between revisions of "Cush"

== Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary <ref name="term_80521" /> ==

<p> the eldest son of Ham, and father of Nimrod, Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtecha; and the grandfather of [[Sheba]] and Dedan. The posterity of Cush, spread over great part of Asia and Africa, were called Cushim, or Cushites; and by the [[Greeks]] and Romans, and in our Bible, Ethiopians. </p> <p> CUSH, CUTHA, CUTHEA, CUSHAN, ETHIOPIA, <em> Land of Cush, </em> the country or countries peopled by the descendants of Cush; whose first plantations were on the gulf of Persia, in that part which still bears the name of Chuzestan, and from whence they spread over India and great part of Arabia; particularly its western part, on the coast of the Red Sea; invaded Egypt, under the name of Hyc-Sos, or shepherd-kings; and thence passed, as well probably as by the straits of Babelmandel, into Central Africa, and first peopled the countries to the south of Egypt, Nubia, Abyssinia, and parts farther to the south and west. The indiscriminate use of the term [[Ethiopia]] in our Bible, for all the countries peopled by the posterity of Cush, and the almost exclusive application of the same term by the Greek and [[Roman]] writers to the before mentioned countries of Africa, have involved some portions of both sacred and profane history in almost inextricable confusion. The first country which bore this name, and which was doubtless the original settlement, was that which is described by [[Moses]] as encompassed by the river Gihon, or Gyndes; which encircles a great part of the province of Chuzestan in Persia. In process of time, the increasing family spread over the vast territory of India and Arabia: the whole of which tract, from the [[Ganges]] to the borders of Egypt, then became the land of Cush, or Asiatic Ethiopia, the <em> Cusha Dweepa within, </em> of Hindoo geography. Until dispossessed of this country, or a great part of it, by the posterity of Abraham, the [[Ishmaelites]] and Midianites, they, by a farther dispersion, passed over into Africa; which, in its turn, became the land of Cush, or Ethiopia, the <em> Cusha Dweepa without, </em> of the Hindoos: the only country so understood after the commencement of the [[Christian]] aera. Even from this last refuge, they were compelled, by the influx of fresh settlers from Arabia, Egypt, and Canaan, to extend their migrations still farther westward, into the heart of the African continent; where only in the woolly-headed negro, the genuine [[Cushite]] is to be found. </p> <p> [[Herodotus]] relates that Xerxes had, in the army prepared for his [[Grecian]] expedition, both Oriental and African Ethiopians: and adds, that they resembled each other in every outward circumstance except their hair; that of the Asiatic [[Ethiopians]] being long and straight, while the hair of those of Africa was curled. This is a very remarkable fact; and leads to the question, How came this singular distinction between people of the same stock? Did it arise from change of climate and of habits? or from some original difference in a particular branch of the great family of Cush? The former appears by far the more probable. It is not likely that a people descended from a common parent should naturally be distinguished by such a peculiar difference; but that it might be acquired by change of soil and condition, we have every reason to believe. We have something exactly analogous to it, in the change which the hair of animals undergoes when removed from their native state. But a modern writer has furnished us with a fact which will go farther than either theory or analogy. Dr. Prichard, in his researches into the [[Physical]] History of Man, relates, on the authority of Dr. S. S. Smith, of the negroes settled in the southern districts of the United States of America, that the field-slaves, who live on the plantations, and retain pretty nearly the rude manners of their African progenitors, preserve in the third generation much of their original structure, though their features are not so strongly marked as those of imported slaves. But the domestic servants of the same race, who are treated with lenity, and whose condition is little different from that of the lower class of white people, in the third generation have the nose raised, the mouth and lips of moderate size, the eyes lively and sparkling, and often the whole composition of the features extremely agreeable. "The hair grows sensibly longer in each succeeding race, and extends to three, four, and sometimes to six or eight inches." </p> <p> About four hundred years before Christ, Herodotus, in his second book which treats of Egypt, makes frequent mention of Ethiopia; meaning exclusively the Ethiopia above Egypt. In the time of our Saviour, (and indeed from that time forward,) by Ethiopia, was meant, in a general sense, the countries south of Egypt, then but imperfectly known: of one of which, that [[Candace]] was queen whose eunuch was baptized by Philip. From a review of the history of this remarkable people, we may see that those writers must necessarily be wrong who would confine the Ethiopians to either [[Arabia]] or Africa. Many parts of [[Scripture]] history cannot possibly be understood, without supposing them to have settlements in both; which Herodotus expressly asserts was the case. In fine, we may conclude, that in the times of the prophets and during the transactions recorded in the second books of Kings and Chronicles, the Cushites, still retaining a part of their ancient territories in Arabia, had crossed the Red Sea in great numbers, and obtained extensive possessions in Africa; where, being, in a farther course of time, altogether expelled from the east by the Ishmaelites, &c, their remains are now concentrated. It is to be observed, however, that the Cushites probably at the time of their expulsion from Egypt, migrated, or sent colonies into several other parts, particularly to Phenicia, Colchis, and Greece; where, in process of time, they became blended with the other inhabitants of those countries, the families of Javan, Meshek, and Tubal, and their distinctive character totally lost. </p>

Psalm 7:1Genesis 10:8 <p> 3. A nation situated south of [[Egypt]] with differing boundaries and perhaps including differing dark-skinned tribes (Jeremiah 13:23 ) at different periods of history. The [[Hebrew]] word [[Cush]] has been traditionally translated Ethiopia, following the Septuagint, or earliest Greek translation, but Cush was not identical with Ethiopia as presently known. Moses' wife came from Cush (Numbers 12:1 ), probably a woman distinct from [[Zipporah]] (Exodus 2:21 ). Cush was an enemy of Egypt for centuries, being controlled by strong pharaohs but gaining independence under weak pharaohs. Zerah, a general from Cush, fought against Asa, king of [[Judah]] (910-869) (2 Chronicles 14:9 ). Finally, Pi-ankhi of Cush conquered Egypt and established the twenty-fifth dynasty of [[Egyptian]] rulers (716-656) with their capital at Napata above the fourth cataract. Isaiah 18:1 may describe some of the political activity involved in Cush's establishing their power in Egypt. [[Tirhakah]] ( 2 Kings 19:9 ) was one of the last of the pharaohs from Cush. Isaiah promised that people who fled from Judah and were exiled in Cush would see God's deliverance (Isaiah 11:11; compare Zephaniah 3:10 ). Isaiah acted out judgment against Cush, probably as the rulers of Egypt (Isaiah 20:3-5; compare Isaiah 43:3; Isaiah 45:14; Psalm 68:31; Jeremiah 46:9; Ezekiel 30:4-5 ,Ezekiel 30:4-5,30:9 ). In Ezekiel's day Cush represented the southern limit of Egyptian territory (Ezekiel 29:10 ). Cush's strength could not help [[Thebes]] escape from Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria, in 663 B.C. Nahum used this historical example to pronounce doom on Nineveh, the capital of [[Assyria]] (Nahum 3:9 ). Ezekiel listed Cush as one of the allies of [[Gog]] and [[Magog]] in the great climatic battle (Ezekiel 38:5 ). The psalmist proclaimed that God's reputation had reached even unto Cush (Psalm 87:4 ). Job saw Cush as a rich source of minerals, especially topaz (Job 28:19 ). </p> <p> By the time of Esther, Cush represented the southwestern limits of [[Persian]] power (Esther 1:1 ). [[Cambyses]] (530-522) conquered Cush for Persia. </p> <p> Cush is mentioned in [[Genesis]] 2:13 as surrounded by the [[Gihon]] [[River.]] The Gihon is usually associated with [[Jerusalem]] as a spring ( 1 Kings 1:33 ). Some [[Bible]] students identify Cush here with the Kassites, the successors to the old [[Babylonian]] empire, who controlled [[Babylon]] between about 1530,1151 B.C. Such students connect this with Genesis 10:8 , where Cush is associated with Nimrod, whose kingdom centered in Babylon (Genesis 10:10 ). Other Bible students would see Gihon here as another name for the Nile River and Cush as referring to the land south of Egypt. A clear solution to this problem has not been found. </p>

== Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible <ref name="term_50503" /> ==

== American Tract Society Bible Dictionary <ref name="term_15748" /> ==

<p> 1. The eldest son of Ham, and father of Nimrod, Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtecha, most of whom settled in Arabia Felix, Genesis 10:6-8 . </p> <p> 2. The countries peopled by the descendants of Cush, and generally called in the English Bible, Ethiopia, though not always. But under this name there seem to be included not less than three different countries: </p> <p> A. The oriental Cush, comprehending the regions of Persis, Chusistan, and Susiana, in Persia. It lay chiefly to the eastward of the Tigris. [[Hither]] we may refer the river Gihon, Genesis 2:13 Zephaniah 3:10 . See [[Eden]] . </p> <p> B. The Hebrews also, in the opinion of many, used Cush and Cushan, Habakkuk 3:7 , to designate the southern parts of Arabia, and the coast of the Red sea. From this country originated Nimrod, who established himself in Mesopotamia, Genesis 10:8 . The "Ethiopian woman," too, whom Moses married during the march of the [[Israelites]] through the desert, came probably from this Cush, Exodus 2:16-21 Numbers 12:1 2 Chronicles 21:16 . </p> <p> C. But, more commonly, Cush signifies Ethiopia proper, lying south and southeast of Egypt, and now called Abyssinia, Isaiah 18:1 20:3-5 Jeremiah 13:23 Ezekiel 29:10 Daniel 11:43 . </p>

<p> 1. [[Eldest]] son of [[Ham]] and grandson of Noah. Genesis 10:6-8; 1 Chronicles 1:8-10 . His descendants are called in the A.V. Ethiopians, though the Hebrew is the same: <i> Cush </i> . The district also occupied by the above people, Isaiah 11:11 , is mostly called in A.V. Ethiopia, <i> q.v. </i> It will be seen by the genealogy that the descendants of Cush were numerous:- </p> <p> CUSH </p> <p> | </p> <p> |¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯|¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯|¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯|¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯|¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯| </p> <p> SEBA. HAVILAH. SABTA. RAAMAH. SEBTECHA. NIMROD. </p> <p> | </p> <p> |¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯| </p> <p> SHEBA DEDAN. </p> <p> All these cannot be confined to Africa. Some were probably located in Arabia, and [[Nimrod]] is clearly associated with the East; so that though as a district <i> Cush </i> may usually refer to Africa, the <i> Cushites </i> must have had a much wider range. It seems clear too from Genesis 2:13 that even geographically the name Cush: or Ethiopia, was also applied to a region in Asia. </p> <p> 2. A [[Benjamite]] enemy of David. Psalm 7 <i> title. </i> Some consider that [[Shimei]] is referred to, as intimated in the <i> margin </i> , 2 Samuel 16:5 . Others think it is Saul. </p>

== Easton's Bible Dictionary <ref name="term_31021" /> ==

<li> A Benjamite of this name is mentioned in the title of Psalm 7 . "Cush was probably a follower of Saul, the head of his tribe, and had sought the friendship of David for the purpose of 'rewarding evil to him that was at peace with him.'" <div> <p> Copyright StatementThese dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by [[Thomas]] Nelson, 1897. Public Domain. </p> <p> Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. Entry for 'Cush'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/c/cush.html. 1897. </p> </div> </li>

<p> Cush. (black). </p> <p> 1. A Benjamite, mentioned only in the title to Psalms 7:1. He was probably a follower of Saul, the head of his tribe, (B.C. 1061). </p> <p> 2. The name of a son of Ham, apparently the eldest, and of a territory or territories occupied by his descendants. The Cushites appear to have spread along tracts, extending from the higher Nile to the [[Euphrates]] and Tigris. History affords many traces of this relation of Babylonia, Arabia and Ethiopia. </p>

== People's Dictionary of the Bible <ref name="term_69890" /> ==

<p> Cush (kŭsh). 1. A country near the Gihon, Genesis 2:13 (margin A. V., and the text of the R. V.), north of Assyria. 2. The country peopled by Cush or the Ethiopians, Genesis 10:6, lying to the south of Egypt, on the upper Nile, and possibly extending its rule into southern Arabia. See Ethiopia. </p>

== Bridgeway Bible Dictionary <ref name="term_18508" /> ==

<p> Cush appears to have been the ancient name of the land of Ethiopia in Africa. The name Cushite, or person of Cush, was sometimes used as a general term for all the dark-skinned peoples of Africa. For details see ETHIOPIA. </p>

<ref name="term_80521"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/watson-s-biblical-theological-dictionary/cush Cush from Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary]</ref>

<ref name="term_50503"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/hastings-dictionary-of-the-bible/cush Cush from Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible]</ref>

<ref name="term_15748"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/american-tract-society-bible-dictionary/cush Cush from American Tract Society Bible Dictionary]</ref>

<ref name="term_31021"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/easton-s-bible-dictionary/cush Cush from Easton's Bible Dictionary]</ref>

<ref name="term_69890"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/people-s-dictionary-of-the-bible/cush Cush from People's Dictionary of the Bible]</ref>

<ref name="term_18508"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/bridgeway-bible-dictionary/cush Cush from Bridgeway Bible Dictionary]</ref>