Who and what is…
Midian
Meaning: strife
This name appears 39 times in 38 verses of the Bible. It is the name of a person and a place.
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Midian, the man
Midian is the 4th son of Abraham by Keturah (Abraham’s wife after Sarah's death, Genesis 25:1-6).
He had 5 brothers: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Ishbak, and Shuah (Gen 25:2).
Midian became the father of the Midianites (Genesis 25:2,4; 1 Chronicles 1:32). His sons were: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah (Abida), and Eldaah (1 Chronicles 1:33).
“Of Keturah's six sons (all probably born early in Abraham’s thirty-five year period with her), Midian is the only one whose descendants, the Midianites, are adequately identified. The others probably mixed with the various descendants of Ishmael, Lot and Esau to become the modern Arabic peoples. Abraham sent them ‘eastward’ (Genesis 25:6) with adequate gifts to begin their own tribes, and this would correspond to Arabia” —Dr. Henry M. Morris, The Defender's Bible
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Midian, the land
This area is located on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea. Today Midian is located in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
Midianites are the descendants of Midian, a son of Abraham and Keturah. Abraham’s great-grandson Joseph, after being thrown into a pit by his brothers, was sold to either Midianites or Ishmaelites.
When Moses fled from Pharaoh, after killing an Egyptian, he dwelled in the land of Midian for 40 years (Exodus 2:15).
During this time, Moses married Zipporah, a daughter of Reuel (also apparently called Jethro), the priest of Midian (Exodus 2:16-22).
Horeb is a part of this land, where Moses saw the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-2).
The area of Timna valley contains large deposits of copper that were mined in ancient times. Large amounts of Midianite ceramic ware has been discovered at these mining sites. Copper was also mined here by the Egyptians during the reign of Pharaoh Seti I at the end of the 14th century BC.
The elders of Midian joined with the Moabites in resisting the Israelite exodus through their land on the way to Canaan (Numbers 22).
During the time of the Judges, Israel was oppressed by Midian for 7 years until Gideon defeated Midian’s armies through God’s help.
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