Who was Midian in the Bible?

Man living at the time of the Patriarchs

Midian was a person who lived during the time of the Patriarchs, as mentioned in Genesis 25:2. He was the son of Abraham and Keturah, making him a half-brother of Ishmael and Isaac, and a full brother of Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Ishbak, and Shuah (Genesis 25:2; 1 Chronicles 1:32-33). Midian was also the father of five sons: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah (Genesis 25:4; 1 Chronicles 1:32-33).

From a biblical perspective, Midian is significant because his descendants, the Midianites, play a role in various biblical narratives. For example, Moses fled to Midian after killing an Egyptian and married Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro, a priest of Midian (Exodus 2:15-21). The Midianites later allied with the Moabites to hire Balaam to curse the Israelites, leading to the incident of the talking donkey (Numbers 22-24). The Midianites also seduced the Israelites into idolatry, leading to a plague and war with the Israelites (Numbers 25; 31).

Overall, Midian represents a branch of Abraham’s descendants who played a significant role in the history of Israel. His lineage intertwines with the broader narrative of God’s covenant with Abraham and the fulfillment of His promises through the generations.