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.