From the earliest chapters of the Holy Scriptures, Ethiopia has been prominently featured, demonstrating its considerable influence and historical significance. This mention of Ethiopia in the Bible – or Cush, as it is interchangeably used – refers to the ancient Southern Nile region, encompassing modern-day Sudan and Southern Egypt. Notably, it is identified as Havilah in the Book of Genesis, hinting at its importance in the formation of early civilisations.
The Bible introduces the Cushites, descendants of Ham, Noah’s youngest son, in Genesis. By virtue of their association with this foundational biblical figure, Ethiopians have been integral to the narrative of the Bible from the start. Scholars have later associated biblical Ethiopia with ancient regions of Nubia and Aksum.
It is important to clarify, however, that the Ethiopia mentioned in the Bible should not be directly equated with present-day Ethiopia, whose borders were determined in 1885. Rather, biblical Ethiopia represents a broader region, encompassing all lands south of the Sahara inhabited by black people. This vast expanse reflects the significance of ancient Ethiopia in biblical times.
The term Ethiopia, as Gage and Beck note, means ‘black in complexion’ (Jeremiah 13:23), while Jabini refers to it as the ‘land of the people with burnt faces.’ Such descriptions are not derogatory but illustrative of the dark-skinned inhabitants’ features, which fascinated the Graeco-Roman world, according to Hatke.
Even though Egypt, the most frequently mentioned African kingdom, is well-known to ancient geographers, biblical Ethiopia’s depiction, although less frequent, portrays it in close proximity to Egypt. Historical records suggest that Ethiopia was under Egyptian domination for nearly 500 years beginning with Dynasty 18 (circa 1500 BC). This led to the Kushite elite modelling their art, architecture, and religious ceremonial life on Egyptian prototypes, further intertwining the cultures and histories of these two regions.
Adamo, a noted scholar, considers Kush a reference to the entire southern region, stretching up to the Cape of Good Hope. This interpretation further underscores the significant influence and reach of ancient Ethiopia in biblical times.
Ethiopia’s multiple mentions in the Bible are indicative of its substantial historical and cultural influence. Its depiction offers a window into ancient African civilisations and their interactions with their neighbours, enriching our understanding of biblical times. Therefore, when reading the Bible, the references to Ethiopia serve as powerful reminders of Africa’s crucial role in ancient history.
