The term "Median" refers to the people and region associated with Media, an ancient kingdom located in what is now northwestern Iran. The Medes, as the inhabitants were known, played a significant role in the history of the Near East and are mentioned several times in the Bible. The Medes were an Indo-Iranian people who, along with the Persians, formed a significant part of the Achaemenid Empire.

Biblical References

The Medes are first mentioned in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10:2, where they are listed as descendants of Japheth: "The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras." Here, "Madai" is understood to refer to the Medes.

In the prophetic literature, the Medes are often depicted as instruments of God's judgment. Isaiah 13:17-18 speaks of the Medes in the context of the fall of Babylon: "Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, who have no regard for silver and no desire for gold. Their bows will strike down the young men; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; they will not look with pity on the children." This prophecy highlights the Medes' role in the divine plan to bring down Babylon, a theme echoed in Jeremiah 51:11, 28.

The Book of Daniel also references the Medes, particularly in the context of the Medo-Persian Empire. Daniel 5:28 records the interpretation of the writing on the wall during Belshazzar's feast: "PERES: Your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians." This event marks the transition of power from the Babylonian Empire to the Medo-Persian Empire, fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah.

Historical Context

Historically, the Medes were known for their confederation of tribes and their eventual unification under a single monarchy. They established a significant kingdom in the 7th century BC, which later allied with the Babylonians to overthrow the Assyrian Empire. The Medes' influence peaked under King Cyaxares, who expanded their territory and power.

The Medes' prominence continued until they were eventually overshadowed by the Persians under Cyrus the Great. The Medo-Persian Empire, often referred to as the Achaemenid Empire, became one of the largest empires in history, and the Medes were integrated into this new political structure.

Cultural and Religious Influence

The Medes, like many ancient peoples, practiced a polytheistic religion, which included the worship of various deities. However, their religious practices and beliefs were eventually influenced by Zoroastrianism, which became prominent in the region.

In the biblical narrative, the Medes are often seen as part of God's sovereign plan, used to accomplish His purposes in history. Their role in the downfall of Babylon and the rise of the Medo-Persian Empire is a testament to the fulfillment of biblical prophecy and the unfolding of divine providence.

Conclusion

The Medes, though not as prominently featured as other nations in the Bible, played a crucial role in the historical and prophetic landscape of the ancient Near East. Their interactions with the Israelites and their part in the larger narrative of God's dealings with the nations underscore the interconnectedness of biblical history and the broader ancient world.The Median

Darius, "the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes," (Daniel 9:1) or "the Mede," ch. (Daniel 11:1) is thus denoted in (Daniel 5:31)

3370. Medos -- a Mede, Median, an inhabitant of Media
... a Mede, Median, an inhabitant of Media. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
Medos Phonetic Spelling: (may'-dos) Short Definition: a Mede Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3370.htm - 6k

3097. magos -- a Magian, ie an (Oriental) astrologer, by impl. a ...
... 3097 (plural, ) -- properly, belonging to "the Magoi, a Median tribe (so Herodotus);
a Magian, one of a sacred caste, originally Median, who seem to have ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3097.htm - 7k

4077. Maday -- an inhabitant of Media
... of Media NASB Word Usage Mede (1). Median. (Aramaic) corresponding to Maday -- Median.
see HEBREW Maday. 4076, 4077. Maday. 4078 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4077.htm - 6k

4074. Maday -- a son of Japheth, also his desc. and their land
... Word Origin of foreign origin Definition a son of Japheth, also his desc. and their
land NASB Word Usage Madai (2), Medes (5), Media (8), Median (1). ...
/hebrew/4074.htm - 6k

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... THE MEDIAN WAR"THE LAST NATIVE DYNASTIES OF EGYPT"THE EASTERN WORLD ON
THE EVE OP THE MACEDONIAN CONQUEST. The Persians in 512 ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of.htm

Accession of Cyrus to the Throne.
... of the realm of Media, and he endeavored to stimulate his rising ambition to the
desire of one day possessing for himself both the Median and Persian throne. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter v accession of cyrus.htm

History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9
... The constitution of the Median empire borrowed from the ancient peoples of the
Euphrates: its religion only is peculiar to itself -- Legends concerning ...
/.../history of egypt chaldaea syria babylonia and assyria v 9/title page.htm

Appendix I.
... Cyaxares (624-585), the son of Phraortes, soon after his succession to his
father"say between 624 and 620"led a second Median assault upon Assyria and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/appendix i.htm

Babylon.
... He joined himself to the Medea, giving his son, Nebuchadnezzar, in marriage to the
Median Princess Amytis; and as has already been said, the two nations ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xi babylon.htm

Change not Always Improvement.
... He had conquered the Median race, and was conquered by Median garb. Doffing the
triumphal mail, he degraded himself into the captive trousers! ...
/.../tertullian/on the pallium/chapter iv change not always improvement.htm

Cyrus, the Servant Of-The Lord {4}
... with the Turanian, or Finnish tribes; and adopted much of their creed, as well as
of their morals, throughout their vast but short- lived Median Empire. ...
/.../kingsley/historical lectures and essays/cyrus the servant of-the lord.htm

The Servant of the Lord.
... with the Turanian, or Finnish tribes; and adopted much of their creed, as well as
of their morals, throughout their vast but short-lived Median Empire. ...
/.../kingsley/lectures delivered in america in 1874/lecture iv the servant of.htm

Cyrus.
... Cyrus was the son of a Persian king and Median princess, and had been so well brought
up at home, that when as a little boy he visited his grandfather at ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xii cyrus.htm

The visit to Media.
... introduced when he arrived in Media, and with the gayeties and luxuries, the pomp
and display, and the spectacles and parades in which the Median court abounded ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter iii the visit to.htm

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