19:9 Tirhakah king of Cush. The Biblical “Cush” or Ethiopia refers to southern Egypt and the land to the south. Tirhakah was the brother of the pharaoh Shebteko, who launched a campaign into Palestine to counter the Assyrians under Sennacherib. Although Tirhakah did not become king until 690 or 688 b.c., by the time of the composition of this passage it was natural to refer to him with his characteristic title.