Advance, O horses, and rage, O chariots! Let the warriors go out: men of Cush and Put who handle the shield, men of Lud, skilled in handling the bow.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just a list of nations; it's a picture of Egypt's massive reliance on foreign soldiers. Notice how the text highlights their specific skills – handling shields and bending bows – suggesting Pharaoh is gathering a highly specialized, mercenary force, yet the prophecy will declare their ultimate futility.
Advance, O horses, and rage, O chariots! Let the warriors go out: men of Cush and Put who handle the shield, men of Lud, skilled in handling the bow.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Pharaoh's army is preparing for battle, described as a formidable force of horses, chariots, and highly skilled warriors from diverse lands like Cush, Put, and Lud. Jeremiah presents this powerful assembly with an ironic tone, as the Lord is about to bring it down. The verse highlights the mercenaries Egypt relies on, showcasing their specialized weaponry and tribal origins as they march out to face an enemy they likely underestimate.
Jeremiah paints a picture of an impressive, diverse army. But who were these soldiers, and why does it matter that they came from so many places?
Jeremiah 46:9 lists several groups that made up Pharaoh's army: Ethiopians (Cush), Libyans (Put), and Lydians (Lud). These weren't just random names; they represented distinct regions and peoples known for their military skills.
This wasn't just an Egyptian army; it was a mercenary force, a coalition of different nations hired for their specific combat abilities. This shows Pharaoh's desperation and the sheer scale of the military might Egypt could assemble. It was designed to impress and intimidate, a formidable force by any human standard.
The text describes Pharaoh's army with vivid, almost boastful language. But God uses this very description to deliver a message of utter defeat.
The verse reads like a battle cry: 'Advance, O horses, and rage, O chariots! Let the warriors go out!' This sounds like an army ready for victory, confident in its power. The language used ('rage,' 'advance') conveys a sense of unstoppable momentum and fierce aggression.
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However, the context of Jeremiah's prophecy reveals this is ironic. God is speaking through Jeremiah, not to encourage Pharaoh, but to mock his confidence and announce his impending destruction.
God takes the very things they trusted in—their powerful horses, chariots, and diverse mercenary army—and declares they will be utterly defeated. Their strength is no match for God's judgment.
The prophet Jeremiah issues a taunt against Egypt's formidable, multi-ethnic army, assembled with great effort. The inclusion of Cushites, Libyans, and Lydians highlights Egypt's reliance on foreign mercenaries, emphasizing their diverse but ultimately doomed military might.
c. 664 BC
Assyrian Withdrawal from Egypt
The Assyrian Empire withdraws its forces from Egypt after a period of occupation, leading to a power vacuum and the rise of native Egyptian rulers.
c. 610 BC
Battle of Carchemish
Egypt, under Pharaoh Necho II, attempts to aid the collapsing Assyrian Empire but is decisively defeated by the rising Babylonian Empire. This marks the end of Egyptian influence in the Levant.
c. 609-605 BC— this verse
Egyptian Military Mobilization
Following the setback at Carchemish, Pharaoh Necho II mobilizes a significant portion of his army, including chariots, cavalry, and diverse mercenary troops from regions like Cush (Ethiopia), Put (Libya), and Lud (possibly Lydia or North Africa), to reassert Egyptian power.
c. 605 BC
Babylonian Advance into Egypt
The Babylonian army, led by Nebuchadnezzar II, pursues the defeated Egyptians all the way to their homeland, posing a direct threat to Egypt itself.
This passage also lists foreign troops allied with Egypt, specifically mentioning Cush (Ethiopia), Put (Libya), Lud (Lydia), and other mercenaries, reinforcing the idea of a multi-national army brought together by Egypt.
Nahum 3:9This verse references Cush and Egypt as being mighty helpers, and then states they were carried away captive, showing a parallel of Egyptian strength and subsequent downfall with its allies.
Isaiah 66:19This prophetic passage mentions archers and distant nations, including those who handle the bow, which echoes the specific mention of the Lydians as skilled bowmen in Jeremiah 46:9.
2 Chronicles 14:9This passage describes a massive army from Cush (Ethiopia) coming against Judah, illustrating the military might and widespread reach of Ethiopian forces that would later be allied with Egypt.
clarkeJeremiah 46:9: "Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow."
The Ethiopians - Hebrews Cush, Phut, and the Ludim. This army was composed of many nations. Cush. which we translate Ethiopians, almost invariably means the Arabians; and here, those Arabs that bordered on Egypt near the Red Sea. Phut probably means the Libyans; for Phut settled in Libya, according t…
calvinJeremiah 46:9: "Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow."
- Ascendite equi (quidam vertunt, insanite, sed dura esset metaphora, ideo simpliciter accipio,) jactate vos currus (ponit in singulari numero, cum tamen verbum sit pluralis numeri,) egredientur fortes, nempe Aethiopes et Lybes, qui tenent clypeum, et Lydi, qui tenent et tendunt arcum.
He goes on w…
This isn't just a list of nations; it's a picture of Egypt's massive reliance on foreign soldiers. Notice how the text highlights their specific skills – handling shields and bending bows – suggesting Pharaoh is gathering a highly specialized, mercenary force, yet the prophecy will declare their ultimate futility.
Pharaoh's army is preparing for battle, described as a formidable force of horses, chariots, and highly skilled warriors from diverse lands like Cush, Put, and Lud. Jeremiah presents this powerful assembly with an ironic tone, as the Lord is about to bring it down. The verse highlights the mercenaries Egypt relies on, showcasing their specialized weaponry and tribal origins as they march out to face an enemy they likely underestimate.
Pharaoh's army is preparing for battle, described as a formidable force of horses, chariots, and highly skilled warriors from diverse lands like Cush, Put, and Lud. Jeremiah presents this powerful assembly with an ironic tone, as the Lord is about to bring it down. The verse highlights the mercenaries Egypt relies on, showcasing their specialized weaponry and tribal origins as they march out to face an enemy they likely underestimate.
"Advance, O horses, and rage, O chariots! Let the warriors go out: men of Cush and Put who handle the shield, men of Lud, skilled in handling the bow." — This isn't just a list of nations; it's a picture of Egypt's massive reliance on foreign soldiers. Notice how the text highlights their specific skills – handling shields and bending bows – suggestin…
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Last reviewed October 2026