- Midian:
- Probably not the Midian east of the Red Sea, to which Moses fled ("Now when Pharaohª heardª° this¹¹ thing,ª he soughtª° to slayª°¹ Moses.ª But Mosesª fledª° from the faceª¹ of Pharaoh,ª and dweltª° in the landª of Midian:ª and he sat downª° by¹ a well.ª" {Exd 2:15}, etc.) but the Midian east of the Dead Sea, and south of Moab. These Midianites, whose daughters seduced the Israelites to commit idolatry ("And Moabª saidª° unto¹ the eldersª of Midian,ª Now¹ shall this companyª lick upª°¹ all¹ [that are] round aboutª us, as the oxª licketh upª°¹ the grassª of the field.ª And Balakª the sonª of Zipporª [was] kingª of the Moabitesª at that¹ time.ª" {Num 22:4} + "And the eldersª of Moabª and the eldersª of Midianª departed²°¹ with the rewards of divinationª in their hand;ª and they cameª° unto¹ Balaam,ª and spakeª° unto¹ him the wordsª of Balak.ª" {Num 22:7} + "And the nameª of the Midianitishª womanª that was slainª° [was] Cozbi,ª the daughterª of Zur;ª he¹ [was] headª over a people,ª [and] of a chiefª houseª in Midian.ª" {Num 25:15} + "Avengeªª° the childrenª of Israelª of¹¹ the Midianites:ª afterwardª shalt thou be gatheredª° unto¹ thy people.ª" {Num 31:2}, etc.) were descendants of Midian, son of Abraham ("And she bareª° him¹ Zimran,ª and Jokshan,ª and Medan,ª and Midian,ª and Ishbak,ª and Shuah.ª" {Gen 25:2}). Their capital city was called Midian, and its remains were to be seen in the time of Eusebius and Jerome. It was situated on the Arnon, south of the city Ar, or Areopolis. "And she bareª° him¹ Zimran,ª and Jokshan,ª and Medan,ª and Midian,ª and Ishbak,ª and Shuah.ª" {Gen 25:2} + "And the sonsª of Midian;ª Ephah,ª and Epher,ª and Hanoch,ª and Abida,ª and Eldaah.ª All¹ these¹ [were] the childrenª of Keturah.ª" {Gen 25:4} + "And Moabª saidª° unto¹ the eldersª of Midian,ª Now¹ shall this companyª lick upª°¹ all¹ [that are] round aboutª us, as the oxª licketh upª°¹ the grassª of the field.ª And Balakª the sonª of Zipporª [was] kingª of the Moabitesª at that¹ time.ª" {Num 22:4} + "And, behold,¹ oneª of the childrenª¹ of Israelª cameª° and broughtª° unto¹ his brethrenª¹ a Midianitish womanª in the sightª of Moses,ª and in the sightª of all¹ the congregationª of the childrenª of Israel,ª who¹ [were] weepingª° [before] the doorª of the tabernacleª of the congregation.ª" {Num 25:6} + "Now the nameª of the Israeliteª¹ that was slain,ª° [even] that¹ was slainª° with¹ the Midianitish woman,ª [was] Zimri,ª the sonª of Salu,ª a princeª of a chiefª houseª among the Simeonites.ª" {Num 25:14} + "For¹ they¹ vexª° you with their wiles,ª wherewith¹ they have beguiledª° you in¹ the matterª of Peor,ª and in¹ the matterª of Cozbi,ª the daughterª of a princeª of Midian,ª their sister,ª which was slainª° in the dayª of the plagueª for Peor's² sake.ª¹¹" {Num 25:18}
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