Lud

In the prophets Lud is a people known for its fighting men. Isaiah names it among the distant nations to which God will send messengers: “to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to far-away islands, who have not heard my fame, nor have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations” (Isaiah 66:19). Jeremiah sees the Ludim march out with Egypt's army: “Cush and Put, who handle the shield; and the Ludim, who handle and bend the bow” (Jeremiah 46:9). Ezekiel names Lud among the soldiers of Tyre, “Persia, Lud, and Put were in your army, your men of war” (Ezekiel 27:10), and among Egypt's allies who “will fall with them by the sword” (Ezekiel 30:5).

Which people is meant is not certain. The Table of Nations names both Lud, a son of Shem (Genesis 10:22), and the Ludim, descended from Mizraim, that is, Egypt (Genesis 10:13). Many identify Lud with the Lydians of western Asia Minor; others, because Lud is named with Put and Cush, take it to be an African people.