Midianite

1 definition found

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Midianite
     an Arabian tribe descended from Midian. They inhabited
     principally the desert north of the peninsula of Arabia. The
     peninsula of Sinai was the pasture-ground for their flocks. They
     were virtually the rulers of Arabia, being the dominant tribe.
     Like all Arabians, they were a nomad people. They early engaged


     in commercial pursuits. It was to one of their caravans that
     Joseph was sold (Gen. 37:28, 36). The next notice of them is in
     connection with Moses' flight from Egypt (Ex. 2:15-21). Here in
     Midian Moses became the servant and afterwards the son-in-law of
     Reuel or Jethro, the priest. After the Exodus, the Midianites
     were friendly to the Israelites so long as they traversed only
     their outlying pasture-ground on the west of the Arabah; but
     when, having passed the southern end of Edom, they entered into
     the land of Midian proper, they joined with Balak, the king of
     Moab, in a conspiracy against them (Num. 22:4-7). Balaam, who
     had been sent for to curse Israel, having utterly failed to do
     so, was dismissed by the king of Moab; nevertheless he still
     tarried among the Midianites, and induced them to enter into
     correspondence with the Israelites, so as to bring them into
     association with them in the licentious orgies connected with
     the worship of Baal-Peor. This crafty counsel prevailed. The
     Israelites took part in the heathen festival, and so brought
     upon themselves a curse indeed. Their apostasy brought upon them
     a severe punishment. A plague broke out amongst them, and more
     than twenty-four thousand of the people perished (Num. 25:9).
     But the Midianites were not to be left unpunished. A terrible
     vengeance was denounced against them. A thousand warriors from
     each tribe, under the leadership of Phinehas, went forth against
     them. The Midianites were utterly routed. Their cities were
     consumed by fire, five of their kings were put to death, and the
     whole nation was destroyed (Josh. 13:21, 22). Balaam also
     perished by the sword, receiving the "wages of his
     unrighteousness" (Num. 31:8; 2 Pet. 2:15). The whole of the
     country on the east of Jordan, now conquered by the Israelites
     (see {SIHON}; {OG}), was divided between the two
     tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh.
     
       Some two hundred and fifty years after this the Midianites had
     regained their ancient power, and in confederation with the
     Amalekites and the "children of the east" they made war against
     their old enemies the Israelites, whom for seven years they
     oppressed and held in subjection. They were at length assailed
     by Gideon in that ever-memorable battle in the great plain of
     Esdraelon, and utterly destroyed (Judg. 6:1-ch. 7). Frequent
     allusions are afterwards made to this great victory (Ps. 83:10,
     12; Isa. 9:4; 10:6). They now wholly pass away from the page of
     history both sacred and profane.