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Bible Dictionaries
Midian
People's Dictionary of the Bible
or Midian (mĭd'i-an), strife. The territory of Midian extended, according to some scholars, from the Elanitic Gulf to Moab and Mount Sinai; or, according to others, from the Sinaitic peninsula to the desert and the banks of the Euphrates. The people traded with Palestine, Lebanon, and Egypt. Genesis 37:28. Joseph was probably bought by them, perhaps in company with Ishmaelites. See Genesis 37:25; Genesis 37:27-28; Genesis 37:36, and Genesis 25:2; Genesis 25:4; Genesis 25:12; Genesis 25:16. Moses dwelt in Midian. Exodus 2:15-21; Numbers 10:29. Midian joined Moab against Israel and enticed that nation into sin, for which it was destroyed. Num. chaps. 22, 24, 25. Later, Midian recovered, became a powerful nation, and oppressed the Hebrews, but were miraculously defeated by Gideon. Judges 6:1-40; Judges 7:1-25; Judges 8:1-28; Psalms 83:9; Psalms 83:11; Isaiah 9:4; Habakkuk 3:7. The Midianites henceforward became gradually incorporated with the neighboring Moabites and Arabians. In the region east of Edom and Moab are many ancient ruins, and portions of the territory are of great fertility, producing bountiful crops for the modern Arabs—the tribe of Beni Sakk'r which bears considerable resemblance in race, character, and habits to what is known of the ancient Midianites. "Curtains of Midian," Habakkuk 3:7, is a figurative expression denoting the borders or inhabitants of Midian.
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Rice, Edwin Wilbur, DD. Entry for 'Midian'. People's Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/rpd/m/midian.html. 1893.
