Midian

Midian provided refuge for Moses after he fled Egypt following the slaying of an Egyptian, where he lived forty years as a shepherd before encountering God at the burning bush. This desert region east of the Gulf of Aqaba thus became the setting for Moses' divine commission to deliver Israel, playing a key role in the unfolding story of redemption. Later, the Midianites oppressed God's people, yet their eventual defeat highlighted the Lord's power to protect and vindicate His covenant nation.

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Region: Northwestern Arabia
Modern Location: Northwestern Saudi Arabia near the Gulf of Aqaba

Strongest connections in Scripture

Exodus 2 Exodus 3 Judges 6

Key Passages

Moses Flees to Midian

Exodus 2:15-21

Moses escapes Pharaoh and settles in Midian, marrying Zipporah the daughter of Jethro.

N¹⁵ow when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

¹⁶ Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. ¹⁷ And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. ¹⁸ And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? ¹⁹ And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. ²⁰ And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread. ²¹ And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.

Moses at the Burning Bush

Exodus 3:1-4

While tending flocks in Midian, Moses encounters God at the burning bush on Mount Horeb.

N¹ow Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

² And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. ³ And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. ⁴ And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

Midian Oppresses Israel

Judges 6:1-6

Midianite raiders oppress Israel until Gideon is raised up as deliverer.

A¹nd the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

² And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds. ³ And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; ⁴ And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. ⁵ For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it. ⁶ And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.