Midianites Midian
Holman Bible Dictionary [1]
Midian was the son of Abraham by his concubine Keturah ( Genesis 25:2 ). Abraham sent him and his brothers away to the east, leading to the assocation of the Midianites with the “children of the east” ( Judges 6:3 ). Midianites took Joseph to Egypt ( Genesis 37:28 ,Genesis 37:28, 37:36 ). Since the caravan in the passage is described as Ishmaelite, it is possible that these two groups descended from Abraham had become interrelated. The Old Testament mentions the Midianites in widely scattered geographical locations, but their main homeland seems to be east of the Jordan and south of Edom. Later historians locate the land of Midian in northwestern Arabia east of the Gulf of Aqabah. The people of Israel had both good and bad relationships with the Midianites. When Moses fled from Pharaoh, he went east to Midian ( Exodus 2:15 ). Here he met Jethro (also called Reuel), the priest of Midian, and married his daughter. During the wandering in the wilderness, Reuel's father-in-law Hobab served as a guide for the Israelites ( Numbers 10:29-32 ). The Midianites are associated with the Moabites in seducing Israel into immorality and pagan worship at Baal-peor ( Numbers 25:1-18 ). For this reason God commanded Moses to execute a war of vengeance against them ( Numbers 31:3; compare Joshua 13:21 ). In the time of the judges the Midianites along with the Amalekites began to raid Israel using camels to strike swiftly over great distances. Gideon drove them out and killed their leaders ( Judges 6-8 ). They never again threatened Israel; but Midian did harbor Solomon's enemy Hadad ( 1 Kings 11:18 ). See Amalekites; Baal-Peor; Gideon; Ishmaelites; Jethro; Kenites .
Ricky L. Johnson
Morrish Bible Dictionary [2]
Son of Abraham and Keturah, and his descendants. Genesis 25:2-4 . They were located far south, on the west of the Gulf of Akaba, and east of Mount Horeb. That they extended however much farther north is proved by the intercourse they had with the Israelites when in the land; unless, as some suppose, the term Midianites was not restricted to this tribe. Moses, when he fled from the king of Egypt, found shelter in Midian. Exodus 2:15-22 .
The next reference to them is where they joined with Moab in soliciting Balaam to curse Israel when on the border of the land; and it was with the Midianites that Israel committed fornication. Numbers 22:4,7; Numbers 25:6-18 . Moses was told to make war with them, and we read that the Israelites slew all the males, burnt all their cities and goodly castles, and afterwards put the women to death; on which occasion Balaam also was slain. Numbers 31:1-18 .
During the time of the judges, because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord, He 'delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years;' but when, being greatly oppressed, they cried unto the Lord, He raised up Gideon and there was a great slaughter of the Midianites, 'so that they lifted up their heads no more' against Israel. Nothing is recorded of them during the time of the kingdom. Numbers 10:29; Judges 6 Judges 8; 1 Kings 11:18; Psalm 83:9-11; Isaiah 9:4; Isaiah 10:26; Isaiah 60:6; Habakkuk 3:7 . Midian is called Madian in Acts 7:29 .
