Zerah
   sunrise. (1.) An "Ethiopian," probably Osorkon II., the
   successor of Shishak on the throne of Egypt. With an enormous
   army, the largest we read of in Scripture, he invaded the
   kingdom of Judah in the days of Asa (2 Chr. 14:9-15). He reached
   Zephathah, and there encountered the army of Asa. This is the
   only instance "in all the annals of Judah of a victorious
   encounter in the field with a first-class heathen power in full
   force." The Egyptian host was utterly routed, and the Hebrews
   gathered "exceeding much spoil." Three hundred years elapsed
   before another Egyptian army, that of Necho (B.C. 609), came up
   against Jerusalem.
   
     (2.) A son of Tamar (Gen. 38:30); called also Zara (Matt.
   1:3).
   
     (3.) A Gershonite Levite (1 Chr. 6:21, 41).
   

Zerah, same as Zarah