Nahum 3:9

In contrast to Nineveh, Thebes had several allies. Ethiopia (Cush) was the country No-amon ruled over. It was a territory that included parts of modern southern Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and northern Ethiopia along the Red Sea. Egypt (Lower Egypt) in Nahum’s day was a separate country to the north of Ethiopia, and Ethiopia was the stronger of the two powers. Put evidently lay farther to the south reaching as far as present-day Somalia on the eastern tip of Africa, and Lubim (part of modern Libya) was to the west. Some references to Put in ancient literature seem to put it in the same area as modern Libya (cf. Genesis 10:6; 1 Chronicles 1:8; Jeremiah 46:9; et al.), but the location described above seems more likely. [Note: See Maier, p. 322; and Elizabeth Achtemeier, Nahum-Malachi, p. 25.] Thus Thebes’ allies surrounded her for many miles, but that did not guarantee her security.