Kush

Kush is an ancient African country, located South of Egypt.

History[edit]

Not much is known about the origins of Kush. Kush was part of a larger region called Nubia. From 2000 b.C. on, there are numerous mentions of the country in Egyptian texts. Its northern frontier with Egypt was at Elephantine. The King of the Hyksos, who ruled Egypt from around 1650 to 1550 b.C., asked the country's military support around 1600 b.C.. Because of its influence, later Egyptian Pharaos waged war against it, until it was defeated. From then on, more and more Kushites got involved in Egyptian political life. Kushite princes even took power in Egypt, to found its 25th Ethiopian Dynasty. The first two of their Pharaos who are known by name are: Alara and Kashta. The 25th Dynasty ended with the invasion by the Assyrians. The Kushites then relocated their capital to the famous city of Meroe.

The evangelization of Meroe is the story told in the Acts in the New Testament, in Chapter 8:26-39 . The title of the female rulers of Meroe was Candace. In the Acts we can read:

8:26: And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet ... 8:35: Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

References[edit]

• Davidson, B. Africa, History of A Continent, London, UK, 1966
• Leclant, J. The empire of Kush: Napata and Meroe, UNESCO General History of Africa
• Shinnie, P. L. Meroe, a civilization of the Sudan, London, UK, 1967