Midianites

Lore & Background

The Midianites first appear in the account of Joseph, where Midianite merchantmen pass by, draw Joseph out of the pit, and sell him to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver, who then bring him into Egypt (Genesis 37:28). The Midianites themselves later sell Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh (Genesis 37:36). This establishes them as traders involved in the movement of peoples and goods. In the time of Moses, a Midianite named Raguel is identified as Moses' father-in-law, and his son Hobab is invited by Moses to journey with Israel (Numbers 10:29). However, the relationship turns hostile when God commands Moses to vex and smite the Midianites (Numbers 25:17, Numbers 31:2-3), leading to a war in which the Israelites slay all the males of Midian (Numbers 31:7). During the period of the Judges, the Midianites again oppress Israel, forcing them into hiding and impoverishing them (Judges 6:2-6). God raises up Gideon to deliver Israel, telling him he will smite the Midianites as one man (Judges 6:16).

Reader's Guide

The passages portray the Midianites in a dual light: as traders and as enemies. In Genesis, they are neutral merchants facilitating Joseph's journey to Egypt, with no moral judgment attached to their actions (Genesis 37:28, Genesis 37:36). In Numbers, they become a target of divine vengeance, with God explicitly commanding Moses to avenge Israel of them (Numbers 31:2). The war against them is presented as obedience to God's command (Numbers 31:7). In Judges, the Midianites are a recurring oppressor, causing Israel to cry out to the Lord (Judges 6:6-7). God responds by raising Gideon, who defeats them with a deliberately reduced army to ensure the glory goes to God (Judges 7:2, Judges 7:7). The portrayal is consistent: the Midianites are a people with whom Israel has both kinship (through Moses' marriage) and conflict, and their role shifts from commercial to adversarial across the narratives.

Did You Know?

• Midianite merchants sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver (Genesis 37:28).
• Moses' father-in-law, Raguel, is identified as a Midianite (Numbers 10:29).
• God commanded Moses to avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites (Numbers 31:2).