Interesting Facts

• Midian was one of the six sons born to Abraham through Keturah.
• He was born during the period of 2090-2099 AM [implied by the timeline of Abraham and Keturah’s marriage].
• Midian had five sons: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah.
• Along with his brothers, Midian received gifts from Abraham and was sent away eastward from Isaac while Abraham was still alive.
• The children of Midian went to the east of the land of Cush, found a large valley, built a city, and dwelt therein, which was known as the land of Midian.
• The Midianites were merchantmen who passed by and drew Joseph out of the pit.
• The Midianites purchased Joseph from his brethren and subsequently sold him.
• Zebulun, son of Jacob, married Merishah, the daughter of Molad, the son of Abida, the son of Midian.
• The Midianites later assisted the Moabites in a battle against Hadad, king of Edom, but were ultimately defeated.
• Following this defeat, the children of Midian sought assistance from other descendants of Keturah to wage war against Moab.

Genealogy

• Midian was the son of Abraham.
• His mother was Keturah, who bore him along with his five brothers: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Ishbak, and Shuah.
• Midian was the father of Ephah, Epher, Chanoch, Abida, and Eldaah.
• The descendants of Midian are referred to as the Midianites. One notable connection through marriage is that Zebulun, son of Jacob, married Merishah, a descendant of Midian through his son Abida.

Historical Context

Midian’s life commenced during the later years of Abraham, following Abraham’s marriage to Keturah [implied timeline]. Similar to his brothers, Midian was likely part of the patriarchal practice of sending away sons from secondary unions with gifts to establish their own territories eastward, ensuring the distinct lineage of Isaac, the heir of the covenant. The establishment of the Midianites in the east of Cush signifies their early migrations and settlement patterns. Later in the narrative, during the time of Jacob and his sons, the Midianites appear as a merchant people involved in trade, as evidenced by their purchase and sale of Joseph. This suggests their integration into the commercial networks of the ancient Near East. Centuries later, during the time after Joseph’s death and the affliction of the Israelites in Egypt, the Midianites are mentioned as engaging in warfare and alliances with other regional powers, such as Moab, against Edom. This indicates their continued presence and influence in the broader geopolitical landscape of the time.

Narrative

The personal narrative of Midian himself is brief within the provided sources, primarily focusing on his birth as a son of Abraham and Keturah and his subsequent eastward migration and settlement with his descendants. The narrative then shifts to the actions of the Midianites as a group. Their most significant involvement in the overarching narrative is their role in the story of Joseph. They appear as merchantmen who purchased Joseph after he was cast into a pit by his brothers. The Midianites then sold Joseph to the sons of Ishmael, who further sold him in Egypt. This act, while seemingly incidental to the Midianites, was crucial in the unfolding of Joseph’s destiny in Egypt. Later, the Midianites are depicted engaging in regional conflicts, forming alliances and waging war with neighboring peoples like the Moabites and the Edomites. This paints a picture of the Midianites as a dynamic group who established their own territory, engaged in trade, and participated in the political and military affairs of their region over several generations. Their connection to the lineage of Abraham and their interactions with the descendants of Jacob highlight the complex relationships and movements of the various peoples in the ancient Near East as portrayed in the sources.