Interesting Facts

• Abidah, also spelled Abida, is identified as one of the five sons of Midian.
• Midian was a son born to Abraham and Keturah, thus making Abidah/Abida a grandson of Abraham.
• The provided sources do not attribute any specific actions or dialogues to Abidah/Abida as an individual. Their presence is solely within genealogical lists.
• Abidah/Abida is mentioned alongside their brothers: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch (Chanoch), and Eldaah.
• The sons of Abidah/Abida are recorded as Chur, Melud, Kerury, and Molchi.

Genealogy

• Abidah/Abida’s father was Midian, one of the six sons of Abraham and his wife Keturah.
• Their paternal grandfather was the patriarch Abraham.
• Their paternal grandmother was Keturah, whom Abraham married after the death of Sarah. One source notes Keturah was “from the land of Canaan”.
• Through their father’s lineage, Abidah/Abida was a great-grandson of Terah and a descendant of Shem and Noah.
• Their brothers, as named in the sources, were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch (also spelled Chanoch), and Eldaah.
• Abidah/Abida’s sons were Chur, Melud, Kerury, and Molchi. The provided sources do not contain information regarding Abidah/Abida’s birth, their own marital relationships, or any daughters they may have had.

Historical Context

Abidah/Abida’s life would have transpired in the period following Abraham’s marriage to Keturah and the subsequent birth of their six sons. As a grandson of Abraham through Midian, Abidah/Abida would have been part of the lineage to whom Abraham gave gifts and sent eastward, away from Isaac, the primary inheritor of Abraham’s covenant. This separation led the descendants of Keturah to establish themselves in lands to the east of Canaan. The cultural and religious environment for Abidah/Abida’s family would have been rooted in the teachings and traditions of Abraham, emphasizing the importance of observing the “way of the Lord” and upholding righteousness and justice. The descendants of Midian, including Abidah/Abida, are noted to have journeyed to the east of the land of Cush, where they discovered a significant valley, established a city, and settled, thereby creating the land of Midian. Consequently, Abidah/Abida’s life and the growth of their own family would have occurred within the context of this emerging Midianite society, shaped by their Abrahamic heritage and the specific circumstances of their eastward migration and settlement. This period generally aligns with the later years of Abraham’s life and the subsequent generations.

Narrative

Within the narrative structure of the provided sources, Abidah/Abida’s role is fundamentally genealogical, serving as a component in the record of Abraham’s expanding lineage through Keturah and his son Midian. They are mentioned as one of the five sons of Midian, and subsequently, their own sons are listed. This inclusion highlights their contribution to the establishment and continuation of the Midianite lineage. Unlike key figures in the line of Isaac, whose lives are detailed with specific events and interactions, Abidah/Abida remains a figure whose existence is documented primarily through their position within the ancestral lists. Their narrative significance lies in illustrating the fulfillment of the divine promise to Abraham concerning the multiplication of his descendants. While the texts offer some broader details regarding the settlements of the Midianites and Abraham’s instructions to his descendants, Abidah/Abida themselves are defined by their place within the familial structure, demonstrating the early diversification of Abraham’s offspring into distinct groups and territories as directed by the patriarch.