Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nahum 3:9
Ethiopia and Egypt [were] her strength, and [it was] infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers.
9. Ethiopia and Egypt ] Heb. Cush and Egypt. At this time Egypt and Cush, the country south of Upper Egypt, were virtually one, as the 25th or Ethiopian dynasty were on the throne (from 728 662), with No or Thebes as their capital. Jer 46:9.
and it was infinite ] A favourite phrase of the prophet, Nah 2:9, Nah 3:3; Nah 3:9; cf. Isa 2:7.
Put and Lubim ] Gen 10:6 Phut is one of the four sons of Ham. Eze 30:5, Phut appears in the armies of Egypt (Jer 46:9), Eze 38:5 among the followers of Gog, and Eze 27:10 among the mercenaries of Tyre. Sept. sometimes renders Lybians, here Phut and Lybians seem distinguished. The place of Phut is usually sought on the N. coast of Africa, west of Egypt, though the views of scholars are divergent. In Isa 66:19 Phut is perhaps to be read for Phul.
thy helpers ] The versions render her helpers.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength – Literally, Egypt was strength , and Ethiopia, and boundless. He sets forth first the imperial might of No; then her strength from foreign, subdued power. The capital is a sort of impersonation of the might of the state; No, of Egypt, as Nineveh, of Assyria. When the head was cut off or the heart ceased to beat, all was lost. The might of Egypt and Ethiopia was the might of No, concentrated in her. They were strength, and that strength unmeasured by any human standard. Boundless was the strength, which Nineveh had subdued: boundless, the store Nah 2:10 which she had accumulated for the spoiler; boundless Nah 3:3 the carcasses of her slain. And it was infinite. The people that came up with the king out of Egypt, were without number 2Ch 12:3. The Egyptians connected with Thebes are counted by a pagan author at seven million. Put or Phut is mentioned third among the sons of Ham, after Cash anal Mizraim Gen 10:6. They are mentioned with the Ethiopians in Pharaohs army at the Euphrates , as joined with them in the visitation of Egypt Eze 30:5; with Cush in the army of Gog Eze 38:15; with Lud in that of Tyre Eze 29:10; a country and river of that name were, Josephus tells us , frequently mentioned by Greek historians. They dwelt in the Libya, conterminous to the Canopic mouth of the Nile .
And Lubim – These came up against Judah in the army of Shishak 2Ch 12:3 against Rehoboam, and with the Ethiopians, a huge host under Zerah the Ethiopian against Asa . The Ribou or Libou appear on the monuments as a people conquered by Menephthes and Rameses III . They were still to be united with Egypt and the Ethiopians in the times of Antiochus Epiphanes Dan 11:43; so their connection with Egypt was not broken by its fall. Those unwearied enemies had become incorporated with her; and were now her help. These were (English Margin) in thy help; set upon it, given up to it. The prophet appeals to No herself, as it were, Thou hadst strength. Then he turns away, to speak of her, unwilling to look on the miseries which he has to portray to Nineveh, as the preludes of her own. Without God, vain is the help of man.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength] The land of Cush, not far from Diospolis; for it was in Arabia, on the Red Sea.
Put and Lubim] A part of Africa and Libya, which were all within reach of forming alliances with No-Ammon or Diospolis.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
It is not very probable that this Ethiopia should be that remote country that lay south of Egypt, though in truth it is possible, and while Egypt was in friendship with No Amon, or Alexandria, the aids might in length of time come from Ethiopia, or Abyssinia. But there was a Cush, an Ethiopia, in Arabia, near to Egypt and Alexandria, whose people were likest to undertake the assistance of Alexandria their neighbour. See 2Ch 14:9; Eze 30:4,5; Hab 3:7. This No, or Alexandria, was either a city subject to, and was part of Egypt, or if (as some conjecture) it was a free city, it was in league with Egypt.
Were her strength; furnishing soldiers and warlike assistance on all occasions to Alexandria, which relied on these confederates.
It was infinite; they never made an end of their confederacies and warlike provisions. It is reported, that when Amasis reigned Egypt reckoned twenty thousand cities, and when Zerah king of Ethiopia came against Asa it was with an army of ten hundred thousand men, and three hundred (thousand) chariots; these were the associates of Alexandria.
Put, or Phuteans, or the Moors, who lie along westward of Alexandria.
Lubim; the people that inhabited the parts of Africa, and thought to be that which is now called Cyrene: see Eze 30.
Were thy helpers, O Alexandria.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. EthiopiaHebrew, Cush.Ethiopia is thought at this time to have been mistress of UpperEgypt.
EgyptLower Egypt.
her strengthhersafeguard as an ally.
it was infiniteTheresources of these, her allies, were endless.
Putor Phut (Ge10:6); descended from Ham (Eze27:10). From a root meaning a bow; as they were famed asarchers [GESENIUS].Probably west of Lower Egypt. JOSEPHUS[Antiquities, 1:6.2] identifies it with Mauritania (compareJer 46:9, Margin; Eze38:5).
Lubimthe Libyans,whose capital was Cyrene; extending along the Mediterranean west ofEgypt (2Ch 12:3; 2Ch 16:8;Act 2:10). As, however, the Lubimare always connected with the Egyptians and Ethiopians, they areperhaps distinct from the Libyans. The Lubim were probably atfirst wandering tribes, who afterwards were settled under Carthage inthe region of Cyrene, under the name Libyans.
thyNo’s.
helpersliterally, “inthy help,” that is, among thy auxiliaries.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Ethiopia and Egypt [were] her strength,…. That is, the strength, support, protection, and defence of No, whether Alexandria, or Thebes, or Memphis: Egypt was, for these cities were in it, and subject to it; or, if this was a free city, as some think, yet in alliance with Egypt, and under its protection; and in like connection it was with Ethiopia, that is, Arabia, a country that lay near to it; and yet, though it was strengthened by such powerful neighbours and allies, it was not secure from the devastation of the enemy:
and it [was] infinite; or there was “no end” o; of its strength, or of the number of its allies, or the forces they were able to bring in its defence. The Ethiopians were very numerous, as may be learnt from 2Ch 14:9 and so were the Egyptians, to whom some interpreters strictly connect this sentence. In the times of Amasis, as Mela p relates, there were twenty thousand cities inhabited in it; and Josephus q says there were in it seven hundred and fifty myriads of men; as Sethon, king of Egypt, and Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia, were about this time the allies of the Jews, in whom they trusted, no doubt they were confederate together, and so both the strength of this city; see Isa 36:6:
Put and Lubim, were thy helpers; Put, or the Putim, were the people of the Moors, that dwelt in Mauritania; and Lubim were the Lybians that bordered on Egypt, and whose country is sometimes reckoned a part of it. The Jews r say Lybia is Egypt; see Ac 2:10 these several people were the confederates of No; and helped them, not only by their commerce with them, but in time of war assisted them against their enemies; and yet, though so strengthened by alliances, were not safe and secure; and therefore Nineveh could not depend upon such helps and helpers.
o “non est finis”, Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Cocceius. p De Orbis Situ. l. 1. c. 9. q De Bello Jud. l. 2. c. 16. sect. 4. r T. Hieros. Celaim, c. 8. fol. 31. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Nah 3:9. Ethiopia, &c. Houbigant renders this passage, The Ethiopians and Egyptians, who are innumerable, were her strength: The Africans and Libyans were her helpers.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Nah 3:9 Ethiopia and Egypt [were] her strength, and [it was] infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers.
Ver. 9. Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength ] No was the metropolis of Egypt, and knew no end of her power, as bearing rule over Ethiopia the strong and Egypt the infinite, Chus valida et Egyptii infiniti (some read this text), and as having all the rest of the peoples inhabiting Africa and Libya for her confederates. See Jer 46:9 , where the prophet speaketh of such people as brought aid to Egypt against the Chaldees, but were foiled and worsted. Of the huge armies that Ethiopia was able to raise see 2Ch 14:9 ; 2Ch 16:8 . Egypt for her strength was called Rahab, Psa 87:4 ; Psa 89:10 that is, mighty and proud.
Put and Lubim were thy helpers
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
and. Some codices, cited in the Massorah (App-30), omit this word “and”; in which case we should render the clause: “Ethiopia strengthened her; Egypt [defended her with countless hosts (or hosts without end)]”.
infinite. Hebrew = and there is no end. See the above note; and Compare Nah 2:9; Nah 3:3. Isa 2:7.
Put. Gen 10:6, the third son of Ham, next to Cush (Ethiopia) and Mizraim (Egypt). Put was among the mercenaries of Tyre (Eze 27:10). Compare Jer 46:9.
Lubim = Lybians. Compare 2Ch 12:3. Dan 11:43.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Ethiopia: Isa 20:5, Jer 46:9
Put: Gen 10:6, 1Ch 1:8, Eze 27:10, Eze 30:5, Eze 38:5
thy helpers: Heb. in thy help
Reciprocal: 2Ch 12:3 – Lubims Jer 46:25 – and their Eze 29:15 – rule Eze 30:6 – They also
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Nah 3:9. The fall of No (Thebes) cannot be explained on the ground that the city had insufficient support. She had the backing of two countries, Egypt and Ethiopia. and of the groups known as Put and Lubim.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
In contrast to Nineveh, Thebes had several allies. Ethiopia (Cush) was the country No-amon ruled over. It was a territory that included parts of modern southern Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and northern Ethiopia along the Red Sea. Egypt (Lower Egypt) in Nahum’s day was a separate country to the north of Ethiopia, and Ethiopia was the stronger of the two powers. Put evidently lay farther to the south reaching as far as present-day Somalia on the eastern tip of Africa, and Lubim (part of modern Libya) was to the west. Some references to Put in ancient literature seem to put it in the same area as modern Libya (cf. Gen 10:6; 1Ch 1:8; Jer 46:9; et al.), but the location described above seems more likely. [Note: See Maier, p. 322; and Elizabeth Achtemeier, Nahum-Malachi, p. 25.] Thus Thebes’ allies surrounded her for many miles, but that did not guarantee her security.