Identity and History of the Midianites
The Midianites were a tribal people descended from Midian, a son of Abraham by Keturah (Genesis 25:2; 1 Chronicles 1:32) [2, 5]. They inhabited the desert regions north of the Arabian peninsula, with their territory stretching along the eastern shore of the Gulf of Aqaba and the eastern frontier of Palestine [2]. The Midianites were known to be nomadic, living in tents and engaging in commercial pursuits, as evidenced by their involvement in the sale of Joseph into slavery (Genesis 37:28, 36) [4, 5].
The biblical account portrays the Midianites as hostile towards the Israelites. They joined forces with the Moabites to hire Balaam to curse Israel (Numbers 22:4, 7) [5, 10]. Later, they were instrumental in leading the Israelites into idolatry and licentiousness, prompting God to command Moses to avenge the Israelites against them (Numbers 25:17-18, 31:1-2) [3, 6]. The Israelites subsequently launched a successful campaign against the Midianites, killing their kings and Balaam, who had advised them to tempt the Israelites (Numbers 31:7-8) [9].
The Midianites also appear in the context of Moses' flight from Egypt, during which he encountered the daughters of a Midianite priest, Jethro, and eventually married one of them, Zipporah (Exodus 2:15-21) [2, 4]. This episode suggests that the Midianites retained some knowledge and worship of the God of Israel.
Historically, the Midianites are understood to have been a significant presence in the region, with some sources indicating they built cities and dominated parts of the Arabian Peninsula and southern Transjordan [7]. Archaeological evidence is not directly cited in the sources for the Midianites, but their presence is attested in various biblical accounts and extra-biblical historical records, such as those found in Flavius Josephus' "Antiquities of the Jews" [1].
The reception history of the Midianites in subsequent generations is marked by their continued hostility towards Israel, as seen in the period of the judges, when they oppressed the Israelites for seven years before being defeated by Gideon (Judges 6-7) [8]. The Midianites are remembered as a people who posed a significant threat to Israel's faith and identity.
Sources
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 7, section 1: . How The Hebrews Fought With The Midianites, And Overcame Them.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Midian — (strife), a son of Abraham and Keturah, (Genesis 25:2; 1 Chronicles 1:32) progenitor of the Midianites, or Arabians dwelling principally in the desert north of the peninsula of Arabia. Southward they extended along the eastern shore of the Gulf of Eyleh (Sinus AElaniticus); and northward they stretched along the eastern frontier of Palestine. The "land of Midian," the place to which Moses fled after having killed the Egyptian, (Exodus 2:15,21) or the portion of it specially referred to, was probably the peninsula of Sinai. The influence of the Midianties on t”
- Numbers ““Harass the Midianites, and strike them, -- Numbers 25:17”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Midianite — 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 (Gen. 37:28, 36). The next notice of them is in connection with Moses' flight from Egypt (Ex. 2:15-21). Here in Midian Moses became the servant and afterwards the son-in-law of”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Midianites — Descended form Midian, son of Abraham by Keturah -- Ge 25:1,2; 1Ch 1:32. Dwelt east of Jordan, beside Moab -- Nu 22:1,4. A small part of Dwelt near Horeb. -- Ex 2:15; 3:1. Retained the knowledge and worship of Jehovah. -- Ex 2:16; 18:9-12. Governed by kings -- Nu 31:8; Jdj 8:5. Dwelt in tents -- Hab 3:7. Engaged in commerce -- Ge 37:28,36. Conquered by Hadad -- Ge 36:25; 1Ch 1:46. Excited by Moab against Israel -- Nu 22:4. Terrified at approach of Israel -- Hab 3:3-7. With the moabites Sent for Balaam to curse Israel. -- Nu 22:5-7. Seduced Israel to idol”
- Numbers (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Numbers 31:1: 31:1-2 The Lord ordered Moses to lead Israel in a war of retaliation against the Midianites, who had joined the Moabites in leading the Hebrews into idolatry (ch 25). The Midianites were a tribal people who inhabited the arid and semiarid regions south and east of Palestine and east of the Jordan River; they were counted among the “people of the east” (Judg 6:3, 33; 7:12). They lived in camps or settlements and were famous for their knowledge of desert transportation (cp. Gen 37:28, 36; Isa 60:6). While they were descended from Abraham (Gen 25:1-2) and had been f”
- Jude (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jude 6:1: 6:1-6 After forty years of peace, religious syncretism had brought about political instability, and marauding nomads had reduced the Israelites to living as fugitives. • The Midianites were once thought to be a purely nomadic tribe centered in northwest Arabia, but they are now understood to have built cities and for a time to have dominated much of the Arabian Peninsula and southern Transjordan (the area east of the Jordan). They are joined here by Amalekites (who earlier were part of a Moabite coalition; see study note on 3:12-13) and the mysterious people of the e”
- Judges (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Judges 6:1: Renewed Apostasy of the Nation, and Its Punishment. - Jdg 6:1. As the Israelites forsook Jehovah their God again, the Lord delivered them up for seven years into the hands of the Midianites. The Midianites, who were descendants of Abraham and Keturah (Gen 25:2), and had penetrated into the grassy steppes on the eastern side of the country of the Moabites and Ammonites (see at Num 22:4), had shown hostility to Israel even in the time of Moses, and had been defeated in a war of retaliation on the part of the Israelites (Num 31). But they had afterwards recovered t”
- Numbers (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Numbers 31:7: Of the campaign itself, the results are all that is recorded. No doubt it terminated with a great battle, in which the Midianites were taken unawares and completely routed. As it was a war of vengeance of Jehovah, the victors slew all the males, i.e., all the adult males, as the sequel shows, without quarter; and "upon those that were slain," i.e., in addition to them, the five Midianitsh kings and Balaam, who first advised the Midianites, according to Num 31:16, to tempt the Israelites to idolatry. The five kings were chiefs of the larger or more powerful of ”
- Numbers (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Numbers 22:4: elders of Midian--called kings (Num 31:8) and princes (Jos 13:21). The Midianites, a distinct people on the southern frontier of Moab, united with them as confederates against Israel, their common enemy.”