ZARA (Hebr. Zerah). — Names of various personages in the Old Testament.
1. A “Cushite” king who invaded Palestine Asa (v.), suffering a severe defeat near Maresha (2 Chron. 14:9–15).
In this account, an army of one million soldiers with 300 war chariots is said to have been utterly routed; the figure, if critically exact, must be taken in the sense of “a great multitude.”
Given the tone of the narrative and the fact that it appears only in the less authoritative Chronicler, not a few rationalists (beginning with Wellhausen, Stade, Maspero, etc.) deny the reality of the event. Those who acknowledge its historical credibility, guided by a certain onomastic affinity, think of an Osorkon or Serakon of the 22nd Egyptian dynasty. The silence of profane sources is explained by the scant knowledge we have of this dynasty (c. 930–730 B.C.), which was beset by Libyan and Ethiopian invasions and had Bubastis as its center. In this case, the term “Cushite” or “Ethiopian” is explained by a certain analogy with the Pharaoh Tirhakah (v.). Others, with greater likelihood, think of an adventurer leading Arab hordes from the shores of the Red Sea, that is, from ancient Cush (v.).
2. Grandson of Esau and son of Reuel (Gen. 36:13, 17; 1 Chron. 1:37).
3. Son of Judah, who went down into Egypt with Jacob (Gen. 38:3, 9; 46:12; 1 Chron. 2:4; 1 Chron. 4:7, 17, 24).
4. Son of the patriarch Simeon (Num. 26:13; 1 Chron. 4:24).
5. A Levite, son of Addo and father of Iethra (1 Chron. 6:21).
6. Father of Jobab, an Edomite king and descendant of Esau (Gen. 36:33).