Midian

Lore & Background

Midian first appears as a son of Abraham and Keturah (Genesis 25:2), and his descendants become a distinct people group. The land of Midian becomes a refuge for Moses after he flees Egypt (Exodus 2:15). There, Moses marries into the family of Jethro, the priest of Midian (Exodus 2:16, Exodus 3:1), and later receives the command from the Lord to return to Egypt (Exodus 4:19). Jethro later visits Moses after the Exodus (Exodus 18:1). Later, the Midianites are allied with Moab against Israel. The elders of Midian join Moab in hiring Balaam to curse Israel (Numbers 22:4, Numbers 22:7). A Midianite woman named Cozbi, daughter of the prince Zur, is slain during a plague connected to the sin of Peor (Numbers 25:15, Numbers 25:18). This leads to a war commanded by the Lord, in which Israel defeats the Midianites, killing five kings—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—and taking captives and spoil (Numbers 31:3, Numbers 31:8, Numbers 31:9). Earlier, a king named Hadad son of Bedad is said to have smitten Midian in the field of Moab (Genesis 36:35), indicating conflict between Edom and Midian.

Reader's Guide

The passages portray Midian as both a genealogical line and a geopolitical entity. Initially, Midian is a peaceful region where Moses finds refuge and a family (Exodus 2:15–16, Exodus 3:1). The priest of Midian, Jethro, is depicted positively as Moses’ father-in-law (Exodus 18:1). However, later passages show Midian in conflict with Israel. The elders of Midian conspire with Moab against Israel (Numbers 22:4, Numbers 22:7), and a Midianite princess, Cozbi, is involved in the sin of Peor (Numbers 25:15, Numbers 25:18). This leads to a divinely commanded war in which Israel defeats Midian, killing five kings and taking captives (Numbers 31:3, Numbers 31:8, Numbers 31:9). The portrayal thus shifts from a place of refuge to an adversary of Israel, with no single consistent moral characterization across the passages.

Did You Know?

• Midian was a son of Abraham and Keturah, not of Sarah or Hagar (Genesis 25:2).
• The priest of Midian, Jethro, had seven daughters (Exodus 2:16).
• Five kings of Midian were slain in the war commanded by Moses: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba (Numbers 31:8).
• A Midianite woman named Cozbi was the daughter of Zur, a prince of Midian (Numbers 25:15).