Topical Encyclopedia
The Midianites were a nomadic people mentioned frequently in the Old Testament, known for their interactions and conflicts with the Israelites. They are descendants of Midian, a son of Abraham and Keturah, as recorded in
Genesis 25:1-2: "Now Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah, and she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah." The Midianites inhabited the region east of the Jordan River and the Sinai Peninsula, extending into the Arabian Desert.
Historical Context and GeographyThe Midianites were primarily a nomadic tribe, engaging in trade and pastoralism. Their territory was not strictly defined, as they moved with their herds and caravans. They are often associated with the land of Midian, which is believed to be located in the northwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula, near the Gulf of Aqaba.
Biblical Interactions1.
Moses and the Midianites: One of the most notable interactions between the Israelites and the Midianites involves Moses. After fleeing Egypt, Moses found refuge in Midian, where he married Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro (also known as Reuel), a priest of Midian (
Exodus 2:15-21). Jethro later provided Moses with wise counsel on leadership (
Exodus 18:17-24).
2.
Balaam and the Midianites: The Midianites, along with the Moabites, sought to curse the Israelites through the prophet Balaam. When this plan failed, they resorted to seducing the Israelites into idolatry and immorality, leading to God's judgment upon Israel (
Numbers 25:1-9). This incident resulted in a divine command to "treat the Midianites as enemies and strike them down" (
Numbers 25:17).
3.
Gideon and the Midianites: During the period of the Judges, the Midianites oppressed Israel for seven years, leading to the rise of Gideon as a deliverer. The Midianites, described as "numerous as locusts" (
Judges 6:5), were defeated by Gideon's small army of 300 men, demonstrating God's power and deliverance (
Judges 7:7-22).
4.
Later References: The Midianites are mentioned in later biblical texts, often in the context of their interactions with Israel.
Isaiah 60:6 and
Habakkuk 3:7 reference Midian in prophetic and poetic imagery, highlighting their continued presence and influence in the region.
Cultural and Religious PracticesThe Midianites, like many ancient Near Eastern peoples, practiced a polytheistic religion. They are associated with the worship of Baal-peor, as seen in the incident of idolatry in
Numbers 25. Their religious practices often brought them into conflict with the monotheistic worship of Yahweh by the Israelites.
Legacy and SignificanceThe Midianites played a significant role in the biblical narrative, serving as both allies and adversaries to the Israelites. Their interactions with key figures like Moses and Gideon highlight the complex relationships between the Israelites and their neighbors. The Midianites' influence is seen in their contribution to the cultural and religious landscape of the ancient Near East, as well as in the lessons of faith and obedience drawn from their encounters with God's chosen people.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
An Arabian tribe descended from Midian. They inhabited principally the desert north of the peninsula of Arabia. The peninsula of Sinai was the pasture-ground for their flocks. They were virtually the rulers of Arabia, being the dominant tribe. Like all Arabians, they were a nomad people. They early engaged in commercial pursuits. It was to one of their caravans that Joseph was sold (
Genesis 37:28, 36). The next notice of them is in connection with Moses' flight from Egypt (
Exodus 2:15-21). Here in Midian Moses became the servant and afterwards the son-in-law of Reuel or Jethro, the priest. After the Exodus, the Midianites were friendly to the Israelites so long as they traversed only their outlying pasture-ground on the west of the Arabah; but when, having passed the southern end of Edom, they entered into the land of Midian proper, they joined with Balak, the king of Moab, in a conspiracy against them (
Numbers 22:4-7). Balaam, who had been sent for to curse Israel, having utterly failed to do so, was dismissed by the king of Moab; nevertheless he still tarried among the Midianites, and induced them to enter into correspondence with the Israelites, so as to bring them into association with them in the licentious orgies connected with the worship of Baal-Peor. This crafty counsel prevailed. The Israelites took part in the heathen festival, and so brought upon themselves a curse indeed. Their apostasy brought upon them a severe punishment. A plague broke out amongst them, and more than twenty-four thousand of the people perished (
Numbers 25:9). But the Midianites were not to be left unpunished. A terrible vengeance was denounced against them. A thousand warriors from each tribe, under the leadership of Phinehas, went forth against them. The Midianites were utterly routed. Their cities were consumed by fire, five of their kings were put to death, and the whole nation was destroyed (
Joshua 13:21, 22). Balaam also perished by the sword, receiving the "wages of his unrighteousness" (
Numbers 31:8;
2 Peter 2:15). The whole of the country on the east of Jordan, now conquered by the Israelites (see
SIHON; OG), was divided between the two tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh.
Some two hundred and fifty years after this the Midianites had regained their ancient power, and in confederation with the Amalekites and the "children of the east" they made war against their old enemies the Israelites, whom for seven years they oppressed and held in subjection. They were at length assailed by Gideon in that ever-memorable battle in the great plain of Esdraelon, and utterly destroyed (Judges 6:1-ch. 7). Frequent allusions are afterwards made to this great victory (Psalm 83:10, 12;Isaiah 9:4;10:6). They now wholly pass away from the page of history both sacred and profane.
Strong's Hebrew
4092. Medani --Midianite... Medani. 4093 .
Midianite. Transliteration: Medani Phonetic Spelling: (med-aw-nee')
Short Definition:
Midianite.
...Midianite A variation of Midyaniy --
Midianite.
...6698. Tsur -- "rock," aMidianite, also a Gibeonite
... 6697, 6698. Tsur. 6699 . "rock," aMidianite, also a Gibeonite. Transliteration:
Tsur Phonetic Spelling: (tsoor) Short Definition: Zur....
7552. Reqem -- "having many colors," aMidianite king, also two...
... 7551, 7552. Reqem. 7553 . "having many colors," aMidianite king, also
two Israelites, also a city in Benjamin. Transliteration...
2354. Chur -- four Israelites, also aMidianite
... 2353, 2354. Chur. 2355 . four Israelites, also aMidianite. Transliteration:
Chur Phonetic Spelling: (khoor) Short Definition: Hur....
6159. Oreb -- aMidianite
... 6158, 6159. Oreb. 6160 . aMidianite. Transliteration: Oreb Phonetic
Spelling: (o-rabe') Short Definition: Oreb. Word Origin from...
2078. Zebach -- aMidianite king
... 2077, 2078. Zebach. 2079 . aMidianite king. Transliteration: Zebach
Phonetic Spelling: (zeh'-bakh) Short Definition: Zebah. Word...
5891. Ephah -- two Israelites, also aMidianite
... 5890, 5891. Ephah. 5892 . two Israelites, also aMidianite. Transliteration:
Ephah Phonetic Spelling: (ay-faw') Short Definition: ephah....
6081. Epher -- two Israelites, also aMidianite
... 6080, 6081. Epher. 6082 . two Israelites, also aMidianite. Transliteration:
Epher Phonetic Spelling: (ay'-fer) Short Definition: Epher....
4084. Midyani -- a descendant of Midian
... 4083, 4084. Midyani. 4085 . a descendant of Midian. Transliteration: Midyani
Phonetic Spelling: (mid-yaw-nee') Short Definition:Midianite....Midianite....
4080. Midyan -- a son of Abraham and Keturah, also his desc. and...
... Midian,Midianite. The same as midyan; Midjan, a son of Abraham; also his country
and (collectively) his descendants -- Midian,Midianite. see HEBREW midyan....
Library
A Battle Without a Sword
... a fight; and, no doubt, the handful left felt some sinking of their courage when
they looked on their own small number and then on the widespreadMidianite host...
Book 4 Footnotes
... [10] Such a large and distinct account of this perversion of the Israelites by the
Midianite women, of which our other copies give us but short intimations...
The Nations of the South-East
... The southern portion of the kingdom had been overrun byMidianite hordes; the enemy
with whom the Israelites had to contend on Moabite soil wasMidianite and...
The Story of Gideon and his Three Hundred Soldiers
... On the plain, stretching up the side of another of these mountains, called
"the Hill of Moreh," was the camp of a vastMidianite army....
Call for Volunteers.
... It would only make bad matters worse. This young upstart Gideon would soon be sorry
enough when he butted his head against the experiencedMidianite leaders....
Joseph, the Castaway.
... Then there passed by someMidianite merchants, and who drew Joseph out of the pit
and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, and he was...
'Fit, Though Few'
... For seven years theseMidianite marauders had paralysed Israel, and year by year
had swarmed up this valley from the eastern desert, and thence by the great...
How, after the Death of Joshua their Commander, the Israelites...
... They also gave land for habitation to the posterity of Jethro, theMidianite, who
was the father-in-law to Moses; for they had left their own country, and...
Egypt.
... but the time was not yet come, and they thrust him from them, so that he was forced
to fly for shelter to the desert, among theMidianite descendants of Abraham...
Solomon's Reign.
... of decay were several revolts: (1) that of Hadad the Edomite, who threw off the
Hebrew part of Edom independently: (2) that of Adad, theMidianite, who defiled...
Thesaurus
Midianite (11 Occurrences)... of history both sacred and profane. Multi-Version Concordance
Midianite (11 Occurrences). Genesis 37:28 Midianites who were merchants
...Zebah (9 Occurrences)
... Gideon gained a great and decisive victory (Judges 8). Zebah and Zalmunna had succeeded
in escaping across the Jordan with a remnant of theMidianite host, but...
Zalmunna (9 Occurrences)
... ze'-ba (zebhach, "victim"), zal-mun'-a (tsalmunna`, "protection refused"): Two
Midianite kings or chiefs whom Gideon slew (Judges 8:4-21 Psalm 83:11 (Hebrew...
Midian (60 Occurrences)
... AMidianite, familiar with the desert, acted as guide ("instead of eyes") to the
children of Israel in their wilderness wanderings (Numbers 10:29)....
Midianites (30 Occurrences)
... AMidianite, familiar with the desert, acted as guide ("instead of eyes") to the
children of Israel in their wilderness wanderings (Numbers 10:29)....
Mid'ianite (5 Occurrences)
Mid'ianite.Midianite, Mid'ianite. Midianites . Multi-Version Concordance... (See
RSV).Midianite, Mid'ianite. Midianites . Reference Bible.
Zimri (16 Occurrences)
... time that the rest of the people publicly mourned because of a plague that was due
to their own dealings with foreign women, brought aMidianite woman among...
Zeeb (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The wolf, one of the two leaders of the greatMidianite
host which invaded Israel and was utterly routed by Gideon....
Zur (9 Occurrences)
... Rock. (1.) One of the fiveMidianite kings whom the Israelites defeated and put
to death (Numbers 31:8). (2.) A Benjamite (1 Chronicles 8:30). Int....
Woman (4043 Occurrences)
... Views regarding this person have been of two general classes: (1) She is to be
identified with Zipporah (Exodus 2:21 and elsewhere), Moses'Midianite wife, who...
Resources
Why did God command the Israelites to completely destroy the Midianites in Numbers 31:17? | GotQuestions.orgWho were the Midianites? | GotQuestions.orgWas Yahweh originally a Edomite or Canaanite god? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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