Zerah
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Zerah or Zérach (זֶרַח / זָרַח "Sunrise", Standard Hebrew Zéraḥ / Záraḥ, Tiberian Hebrew Zéraḥ / Zāraḥ) refers to three different people.
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[edit] Osorkon II
Zerah was an "Ethiopian," probably Osorkon II, the successor of Shishak on the throne of Egypt. With an enormous army, the largest we read of in Scripture, he invaded the Kingdom of Judah in the days of Asa (2 Chr. 14:9-15). He reached Zephathah, and there encountered the army of Asa. This is the only instance "in all the annals of Judah of a victorious encounter in the field with a first-class heathen power in full force." The Egyptian host was utterly routed, but the Hebrews gathered "exceeding much spoil." Three hundred years elapsed before another Egyptian army, that of Necho (609 BC), came up against Jerusalem.
[edit] Son of Tamar
Zerah was a son of Tamar (Gen. 38:30); called also Zara (Matt. 1:3). Zerah was the twin of Pharez (Perets); when Zerah stuck his hand out, the midwife tied a red string around it, then Pharez came out fully, but then Zerah, who was named for sticking his hand out first and not coming out first.
[edit] A Gershonite
Zerah was a Gershonite Levite (1 Chr. 6:21, 41).
[edit] References
- This entry incorporates text from the public domain Easton's Bible Dictionary, originally published in 1897.
