Descendants of Abraham
Midian was a son of Abraham and Keturah, so the Midianites were related to the Israelites. Israel came through Abraham’s son Isaac and grandson Jacob, while Midian came through another branch of Abraham’s family (Genesis 25:1-2, KJV).
Abraham gave Isaac his inheritance and sent the sons of Keturah eastward. That helps explain why Midianite peoples appear as Israel’s neighbours rather than as part of the nation of Israel itself (Genesis 25:5-6, KJV). They seem to have been a collection of clans, often associated with the regions east and south-east of Canaan, rather than one unified empire.
And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
Moses lived among them
The Midianites first become especially important in Moses’ story. After fleeing Egypt, Moses arrived in Midian, helped several women at a well, and was welcomed into the household of their father, a Midianite priest (Exodus 2:15-16, KJV). Moses later married Zipporah, one of his daughters (Exodus 2:21, KJV).
Moses spent years caring for his father-in-law’s sheep. Near Horeb, while doing that ordinary work, he saw the burning bush and received God’s call to lead Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 3:1-2, KJV).
His father-in-law, called Jethro, later visited Israel’s camp. Jethro rejoiced over the Lord’s rescue of Israel and encouraged Moses to share the burden of judging the people with trustworthy helpers (Exodus 18:9-12, KJV; Exodus 18:17-21, KJV). So not every Midianite in Scripture is presented as hostile.
And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
Conflict in the wilderness
Later, particular Midianite leaders became involved in opposition to Israel. When Moab’s king feared Israel’s approach, he consulted the elders of Midian, and representatives from both peoples went to Balaam, hoping he would curse Israel (Numbers 22:4, KJV; Numbers 22:7, KJV).
A serious conflict followed at Baal-peor. Scripture identifies a Midianite woman and her father, Zur, who was a leader of a Midianite family, in the events that drew Israel into idolatry and sexual sin (Numbers 25:6-8, KJV; Numbers 25:14-18, KJV). Numbers then records a war with Midian connected to that episode (Numbers 31:1-3, KJV).
These are accounts of specific ancient events, not a reason to despise any people today. The Bible distinguishes between nations, leaders, families, and individuals, and it tells both painful conflicts and generous acts of welcome.
For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.
The oppressors Gideon faced
Centuries later, in the era of the judges, Midianite raiders oppressed Israel for seven years. Israelites hid in dens, caves, and mountain strongholds because Midian and its allies repeatedly invaded at harvest time (Judges 6:1-5, KJV).
God called Gideon to lead a much smaller force against them. Gideon’s three hundred men used trumpets, pitchers, and lamps, and the Midianite camp fell into confusion as God gave Israel victory (Judges 7:19-22, KJV). The point was clear: Israel’s rescue did not rest on superior numbers.
So, who were the Midianites? They were Abraham’s descendants and Israel’s neighbours, woven into the Bible’s story through Moses, Jethro, the wilderness conflict, and Gideon. Reading each account in its setting gives a truer picture than one label can.
And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.