Ethiopia was her strength, Egypt too, and that without limit: the description of Thebes at the height of her powers is continued. In the years before her capture in 663 B.C., Thebes was the center of an empire which included both Egypt itself and the area to the south of Egypt called Cush in Hebrew. This region was called Ethiopia in Greco-Roman times and is so named in Greek translations of the Old Testament (so Revised Standard Version, King James Version, Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible). The area referred to included most of modern Sudan and some of present-day Ethiopia (Abyssinia). Thus Good News Translation translates “She ruled Sudan and Egypt, there was no limit to her power.” In certain languages it will be necessary to translate as “The city of Thebes ruled the countries of Sudan and Egypt. There was no limit…,” or even “The kings in the city of Thebes ruled the countries of….” The kings of the twenty-fifth Egyptian dynasty, which ruled from 715–663 B.C., were actually of Sudanese origin, and this is why the two countries were ruled as one at that time (see also comments on Zeph 1.1; 2.12; 3.10). And that without limit (Good News Translation “there was no limit to her power”): in certain languages this sentence will need to be restructured as “her power had no limit.”

Put and the Libyans were her helpers: in addition to the people of their own territories, the kings who had ruled in Thebes could also call upon neighboring countries as allies, or friends who had a treaty or agreement with Thebes and would come to its aid in time of war. The two countries mentioned are “Put and Libya” (New International Version). Libya is the country immediately west of Egypt, but there is some doubt where Put was. The majority of scholars think that it was along the African coast at the southern end of the Red Sea, in the country now called Somalia. Others think that it was close to or even part of Libya. Good News Translation holds this latter view and thus translates the one name only: “Libya was her ally.”

Since Put is here distinguished from Libya, this solution seems a little improbable, and translators should probably retain both names, as do Bible en français courant and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch. Since it has been several lines since the name “Thebes” has been mentioned, it will be helpful to repeat it here; for example, “Put and Libya were the allies of Thebes,” or even “The people of Put and Libya were the allies of Thebes” (compare New International Version). In some languages it may be necessary to expand this sentence slightly and say “The people of the countries of Put and Libya were the allies (or, friends) of the people of Thebes.”

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A . A Handbook on the Book of Nahum. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1989. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .