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CUSH in OT designates Ethiopia, and is the only name used there for that region. It is the same as the Egyptian Kash or Kesh. Broadly speaking, it answers to the modern Nubia. More specifically, the Egyptian Kash extended southwards from the first Cataract at Syene (Eze_29:10), and in the periods of widest extension of the empire it embraced a portion of the Sudan. It was conquered and annexed by Egypt under the 12th Dynasty (c [Note: circa, about.] . b.c. 2000) and remained normally a subject country. After the decline of the 22nd (Libyan) Dynasty, the Cushites became powerful and gradually encroached on northern Egypt, so that at length an Ethiopian dynasty was established (the 25th, 728–663), which was overthrown by the Assyrians. Within this period falls the attempt of Tirhakah, king of Cush, to defeat Sennacherib of Assyria in Palestine (2Ki_19:9).
In Gen_10:6 Cush is a son of Ham, though his descendants as given in v. 7 are mostly Arabian. Surprising also is the statement in 2Ch_14:9 ff. that Zerah the Cushite invaded Judah in the days of Asa, at a time when the Cushites had no power in Egypt. An attempt has been made to solve these and other difficulties by the assumption of a second Cush in Arabia (cf. 2Ch_21:16). Instructive references to the Cushite country and people are found in Amo_9:7, Isa_18:1 f., Jer_13:23. Cushites were frequent in Palestine, probably descendants of slaves; see 2Sa_18:21 ff., Jer_36:14; Jer_38:7 ff. These were, however, possibly Arabian Cushites. For the explanation of the Cush of Gen_10:8 ff., and possibly of Gen_2:13, see Cossæans.
J. F. McCurdy.
CUSH as a personal name occurs only in the title of Psa_7:1-17. He is described as a Benjamite, and was probably a follower of Saul who opposed David.