The Cushite invasion of Judah (verses 9-15) is mentioned only in 2 Chronicles.

Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them: Nothing more is known concerning this Zerah, although some scholars think he may have been a commander under Pharaoh Osorkon I, who ruled in Egypt around 929–893 B.C. Others think he may have been the chief of Arab tribes from the Sinai region. Ethiopian is literally “Cushite” (New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). The term “Cush” referred to a broad area south of Egypt, including both modern-day Sudan and Ethiopia (see the comments on 2 Chr 12.3). God’s Word states that this man was from “Sudan.” As an alternative translation, New Revised Standard Version has “Nubian.” This is also the reading in the text of Traduction œcuménique de la Bible.

With an army of a million men and three hundred chariots: A million men is literally “a thousand thousands” (similarly King James Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). This is probably a round figure suggesting an extremely large number of troops, too numerous to count. According to 2 Chr 16.8, Zerah’s army included soldiers who were Cushites and Libyans. For chariots see the comments on 1 Chr 18.4 and 2 Chr 1.14.

And came as far as Mareshah: Since the Cushite army was invading Judah, some versions use a verb here that expresses military action. Good News Translation says the army “advanced as far as,” and New Jerusalem Bible has “penetrated to.” Mareshah was a town in southern Judah that Rehoboam had fortified earlier (see 2 Chr 11.8). It was located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Jerusalem, near the city of Lachish.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .