Proximity to Ethiopians

Ethiopians and Ethiopia were regularly mentioned throughout the Old Testament in proximity to the Israelites.

The Ethiopian People according to the Table of Nations in Genesis 10.

Genesis 10:6

And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.

Strong’s H3568 defines the term Cush as:

  1. “Black”

  2. the son of Ham and grandson of Noah and the progenitor of the southernmost peoples located in Africa

  3. the peoples descended from Cush

Image Source: Blueletterbible.org

Jeremiah 13:23 - Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

The land of Ethiopia is mentioned multiple times in the Old Testament.

Genesis 2:13

And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.

Isaiah 18:1

Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia:

Isaiah 11:11

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

1710 Map
1743 Map
1737 Map
1750 Map

Top Left: 1710 Map; Top Right: 1737 Map; Bottom Left: 1743 Map; Bottom Right: 1750 Map depicting large regions called Ethiopia.

Moses married an Ethiopian. The issue wasn’t that she was “black” because Moses, Miriam and Aaron were as well. The issue was that she was of a different culture.

Numbers 12:1 - And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

Israelites were compared to Ethiopians.

Amos 9:7 - Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? saith the LORD. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?