Cuth is a region mentioned in the Bible, specifically in the context of the Assyrian Empire's resettlement policies. The name "Cuth" is often associated with the people known as the "Cuthites" or "Cutheans," who were relocated by the Assyrians to Samaria after the conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This relocation is part of the broader narrative of the Assyrian policy of deporting conquered peoples to prevent rebellion and to assimilate them into the empire.

Biblical References:

The primary biblical reference to Cuth is found in 2 Kings 17:24:

"The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns." (2 Kings 17:24)

This passage describes the Assyrian strategy of repopulating the land of Israel with foreigners after the Israelites were exiled. The people from Cuthah, along with those from other regions, were brought to Samaria, leading to a mixed population that would later be known as the Samaritans.

Historical and Geographical Context:

Cuthah, often identified with the ancient city of Kutha, was located in Mesopotamia, near Babylon. It was a significant city in the Assyrian and Babylonian empires, known for its religious and cultural influence. The city was dedicated to the god Nergal, a deity associated with war and the underworld.

The relocation of the Cuthites to Samaria was part of the Assyrian Empire's broader strategy to control its vast territories by diluting national identities and promoting loyalty to the empire. This policy had long-lasting effects on the region, contributing to the complex ethnic and religious landscape of Samaria.

Religious and Cultural Impact:

The introduction of the Cuthites and other foreign peoples into Samaria led to significant religious syncretism. The new inhabitants brought their own gods and religious practices, which they combined with the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel. This syncretism is evident in the biblical narrative, where the new settlers are described as fearing the LORD but also serving their own gods (2 Kings 17:33).

The mixed religious practices of the Samaritans became a point of contention between them and the returning Jewish exiles from Babylon, as seen in the post-exilic period. The Samaritans' worship on Mount Gerizim and their acceptance of only the Pentateuch as Scripture further distinguished them from the Jews, leading to a long-standing animosity between the two groups.

Theological Significance:

From a theological perspective, the account of the Cuthites' relocation to Samaria highlights themes of judgment and restoration. The exile of the Israelites and the resettlement of foreign peoples in their land served as a divine judgment for Israel's idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. However, it also set the stage for the eventual return and restoration of a remnant, as prophesied by the prophets.

The presence of the Cuthites and other foreign groups in Samaria also foreshadows the New Testament theme of the inclusion of Gentiles into the people of God. Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) and the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) illustrate the breaking down of ethnic and religious barriers, pointing to the universal scope of the Gospel.

In summary, Cuth and its people played a significant role in the historical and religious development of the region, contributing to the complex tapestry of biblical history and theology.Cuth

Cuthah, burning

CUTH; CUTHAH

kuth, ku'-tha (kuth, kuthah; Choua, Chountha): The longer writing is the better of the two, and gives the Hebrew form of the name of one of the cities from which Sargon of Assyria brought colonists to fill the places of the Israelites which he deported from Samaria in 772 B.C. (2 Kings 17:24, 30). Probably in consequence of their predominating numbers, the inhabitants of Samaria in general were then called kuthiyim, or Cutbeans. 1. The Ruins of Cuthah:

From contract-tablets found at Tel-Ibrahim by the late Hormuzd Hassam, on which the ancient name of the place is given as Gudua or Kutu, it would seem that that is the site which has to be identified with the Biblical Cuthah. It lies to the Northeast of Babylon, and was one of the most important cities of the Babylonian empire. The explorer describes the ruins as being about 3,000 ft. in circumference and 280 ft. high, and adjoining them on the West lies a smaller mound, crowned with a sanctuary dedicated to Ibrahim (Abraham). From the nature of the ruins, Rassam came to the conclusion that the city was much more densely populated after the fall of Babylon than in earlier times. A portion of the ruins were in a very perfect state, and suggested an unfinished building.

2. The Temple:

The great temple of the city was called E-mes-lam, and was dedicated to Nergal (compare 2 Kings 17:30), one of whose names was Meslam-ta-ea. Both city and temple would seem to have been old Sumerian foundations, as the name Gudua and its later Sere form, Kutu, imply.

LITERATURE.

See Rassam, Asshur and the Land of Nimrod, 396, 409, and, for details of the worship of Nergal, PSBA, December, 1906, 203-18.

T. G. Pinches

3575. Kuth -- a city of Assyr.
... a city of Assyr. Transliteration: Kuth or Kuthah Phonetic Spelling: (kooth) Short
Definition: Cuth. ... NASB Word Usage Cuth (1), Cuthah (1). Cuth. ...
/hebrew/3575.htm - 6k

List of Abbreviations Used in Reference to Rabbinic Writings ...
... Ziz.), Mass. Abhadim (Mass. Abad.), Mass. Kuthim (Mass. Cuth.), and Mass. Gerim
(Mass. Ger.). They are printed and quoted according to double pages (a and b). ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/list of abbreviations used in.htm

Cuth (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia CUTH; CUTHAH. kuth, ku'-tha ... 18. TG Pinches.
Multi-Version Concordance Cuth (1 Occurrence). 2 Kings ...
/c/cuth.htm - 8k

Cuthah (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CUTH; CUTHAH. ... TG Pinches. CUTHAH. See CUTH,
CUTHAH. Multi-Version Concordance Cuthah (2 Occurrences). ...
/c/cuthah.htm - 9k

Nergal (3 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 17:30 The men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal,
and the men of Hamath made Ashima, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS ...
/n/nergal.htm - 8k

Benoth (1 Occurrence)
... 2 Kings 17:30 The men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal,
and the men of Hamath made Ashima, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS ...
/b/benoth.htm - 6k

Cutha (1 Occurrence)

/c/cutha.htm - 7k

Ashima (1 Occurrence)
... 2 Kings 17:30 The men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal,
and the men of Hamath made Ashima, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS ...
/a/ashima.htm - 7k

Ashi'ma (1 Occurrence)
... Ashi'ma (1 Occurrence). 2 Kings 17:30 And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth,
and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, (See RSV). ...
/a/ashi'ma.htm - 6k

Suc'coth-be'noth (1 Occurrence)
... 2 Kings 17:30 And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth
made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, (See RSV). ...
/s/suc'coth-be'noth.htm - 6k

Succoth-benoth (1 Occurrence)
... 2 Kings 17:30 And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made
Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, (See JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS). ...
/s/succoth-benoth.htm - 9k

Succothbenoth (1 Occurrence)
... Succothbenoth (1 Occurrence). 2 Kings 17:30 And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth,
and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, (KJV) ...
/s/succothbenoth.htm - 9k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus