12 The words “Go ahead and” are not in the text but are intended to suggest the ironical nature of the commands here. The Lord is again setting them up for a fall (v. 10). See the translator’s note on v. .
13 The peoples that are referred to here are all known to have been mercenaries in the army of Egypt (see Nah 3:9; Ezek 30:5). The place names in Hebrew are actually Cush, Put, and Lud. “Cush” has already been identified in Jer 13:23 as the region along the Nile south of Egypt most commonly referred to as Ethiopia. The identification of “Put” and “Lud” are both debated though it is generally felt that Put was a part of Libya and Lud is to be identified with Lydia in Asia Minor. For further discussion see M. J. Mellink, “Lud, Ludim” 3:178, and T. O. Lambdin, “Put,” 3:971.
14 Heb “who grasp and bend the bow.”

In other versions

Advance, O horses,

and rage, O chariots!

Let the warriors go out:

men of Cush and Put who handle the shield,

men of Lud, skilled in handling the bow.

Charge, you horses!

Drive furiously, you charioteers!

March on, you warriors—men of Cush and Put who carry shields,

men of Lydia who draw the bow.

Rise up, you cavalry!

Race furiously, you chariots!

Let the warriors march out—

Cush and Put,

who are able to handle shields,

and the men of Lud,

who are able to handle and string the bow.

Charge, you horses and chariots;

attack, you mighty warriors of Egypt!

Come, all you allies from Ethiopia, Libya, and Lydia

who are skilled with the shield and bow!

Go up, O horses,

and drive madly, O chariots,

and let the warriors go forth;

Cush and Put, who wield the small shield,

and Lud, who wield and bend the bow.

Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots;

And let the mighty men come forth;

The Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield;

And the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.

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