The Midianites were a nomadic people descended from Midian, one of the sons of Abraham through his wife Keturah (Genesis 25:1-2). They are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, often in the context of conflict with the Israelites. The Midianites inhabited the region east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, extending into the Arabian Desert. Their lifestyle was largely nomadic, and they were known for their trade and commerce, often traveling in caravans.

Conflict with Israel

The Midianites are most notably remembered for their opposition to the Israelites during the period of the Judges. In the Book of Numbers, the Midianites, along with the Moabites, sought to curse the Israelites through the prophet Balaam (Numbers 22-24). When this plan failed, they resorted to seducing the Israelites into idolatry and immorality, leading to God's judgment upon Israel (Numbers 25:1-9).

In response to this transgression, God commanded Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites. The Israelites waged war against them, resulting in a decisive victory. The account of this battle is recorded in Numbers 31, where the Israelites, under the leadership of Moses and Phinehas, defeated the Midianite kings and took a significant amount of spoil.

Rich Spoil Taken

The spoils of war from the Midianites were substantial and are detailed in Numbers 31:25-54. The Israelites captured vast amounts of livestock, including 675,000 sheep, 72,000 cattle, and 61,000 donkeys. Additionally, they took 32,000 women who had not been with a man. The plunder was divided among the warriors, the congregation, and the Levites, with a portion dedicated to the LORD as a tribute.

The wealth acquired from the Midianites was a testament to God's provision and favor upon Israel. The division of the spoil was conducted according to divine instruction, ensuring that the LORD received His due portion. Numbers 31:50 records the offering of gold articles by the officers of the army as atonement for their souls before the LORD: "So we have brought as an offering to the LORD the gold articles each of us acquired—armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."

Gideon's Victory

The Midianites reappear in the narrative of Gideon, one of the judges of Israel. During this period, the Midianites, in alliance with the Amalekites and other eastern peoples, oppressed Israel, devastating their land and resources (Judges 6:1-6). God raised up Gideon to deliver Israel from their oppression. With a divinely reduced army of 300 men, Gideon achieved a miraculous victory over the Midianites, as recorded in Judges 7. This victory further demonstrated God's power and the futility of relying on human strength alone.

The defeat of the Midianites under Gideon led to a period of peace for Israel, lasting forty years (Judges 8:28). The rich spoil taken from the Midianites in these encounters served as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the consequences of opposing His chosen people.Numbers 31:1
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Nave's Topical Index

Palestine under Pagan Kings.
... carried away, and sold by the Midianites to the ... gorgeous, and the public buildings
rich and elegant. ... Among the spoil, taken by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon, were ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/palestine under pagan kings.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... Out of the spoil taken from the Midianites he formed and set up at Ophrah an ephod,
which became, as we learn, "a snare unto him and unto his house," but he ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The Israelites
... there was a great feudal aristocracy, rich in landed ... of them massacred, and the spoil
divided among ... Moabites and Midianites, Ammonites and Bedawin, even the ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

Chapter xlix
... bands of roving marauders from the desert"Midianites and Ammonites ... With these rich
blessings he himself received filling his ... In the evening he divides spoil. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlix.htm

The First vision "On Earth"
... by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days ... captains (the military officers),
and the rich men, [181 ... order to execute judgment on the Midianites 1,000 from ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the first vision on earth.htm

Sweet Comfort for Feeble Saints
... can go to the camp of the Midianites, and overthrow ... The bruised reed, then, would
of course spoil the melody ... poor shall bring no less, and the rich shall bring ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/sweet comfort for feeble saints.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... The alluvial plain extending behind the marshes was as rich and fertile as that ... These
deities received a tenth of the spoil after any successful campaign"the ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
... by the ruins of those that they have power to spoil. ... say, Blessed be the Lord, for
I am rich" (Zechariah 11:5 ... that we may hide it from the Midianites (Judges 6 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/seasonable counsel or advice to.htm

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