Midian

Places

Located between Israel and Egypt, Midian was inhabited by the descendents of Midian, who was a son of Abraham. Moses spent his exile from Egypt in Midian and married a Midianite woman. Later, Israel was persecuted by Midian on the final legs of their journey to Israel.

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Moses' Family and the Journey to Egypt

COMMENTARY

Moses' decision to send his wife and children back to Midian reveals the complexities of leadership and familial responsibilities during a time of crisis. Rashi, the renowned 11th-century French biblical commentator, provides insight into the interaction between Moses and Aaron and the subsequent decisions regarding Moses' family.

אחר שלוחיה AFTER HIS HAVING SENT HER AWAY — When God said to him in Midian, (Exodus 4:19, 20) “Go, return to Egypt … and Moses took his wife and his sons etc…. and Aaron went forth towards him and met him at the Mount of God”, he (Aaron) said to him, “Who are these?” He answered him, “This is my wife whom I married in Midian and these are my children”. He, thereupon, asked him, “Whither are you taking them?” He replied, “To Egypt”. Where-upon he said to him, “We have cause to grieve over the former ones (the Israelites already there)…

Rashi on Exodus 18:2:1

The Spiritual Complexity of Midian

KABBALAH

The Zohar delves into the moral and spiritual complexity of the Midianites, questioning divine favoritism and highlighting the righteousness of individuals like Zipporah and Jethro. This foundational Kabbalistic text offers a mystical commentary on the Torah, exploring deeper spiritual meanings and complexities.

One day the Companions were sitting arguing with one another-R. Eleazar and R. Abba, and R. Hiya and R. Jose, and the other Companions. They said: ‘It is written, “Vex not Moab neither contend with him”, etc., Moab and Ammon being spared because of Ruth and Naama, who were destined to issue from them. Now,’ they asked, ‘seeing that Zipporah, the wife of Moses, was from Midian, and Jethro and his sons, who were most virtuous, came from Midian, and Moses lived in Midian, was not Midian in fairness even more deserving to be spared than Moab and Ammon?’

Zohar, Balak 6:60

The Spiritual Struggle with Midian

CHASIDUT

The conflict with the Midianites is not just a historical event but a profound spiritual struggle involving holiness and soul connections. Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izbica, in his Hasidic commentary Mei HaShiloach, delves into the mystical dimensions of the Midianite episode, particularly focusing on the interactions between key figures like Moshe, Pinchas, and Zimri.

“And Moshe was angry [that they had not killed the Midianite women] … behold, they caused Israel to treacherously act against God concerning Pe’or .…” (Bamidbar, 31:14–16)
Here Moshe Rabeynu showed Pinchas that he had made the same mistake that Zimri and all those involved with (the illicit lewdness of) Pe’or had made, their mistake being that they saw these Midianites possessed Kedusha. We find Zimri claiming to Moshe (Sanhedrin, 82a), “Who made Yitro’s daughter, a Midianite…

Mei HaShiloach, Volume I, Numbers, Matot 6

Moses and the Midianite Woman

TARGUM

The Israelites confronted Moses about his marriage to a Midianite woman, revealing underlying tensions and perceived hypocrisy. The Targum Jonathan, an Aramaic translation and interpretation of the Hebrew Bible, elaborates on the events in Numbers 25, including the confrontation involving a Midianite woman.

And behold, a man of the sons of Israel came, holding a Midianitess, and brought her to his brethren, in the sight of Mosheh and all the congregation of the children of Israel. He answered and said to Mosheh, What is it (that is wrong) to have company with her? If thou sayest, It is forbidden, didst thou not thyseIf take a Midianitess, the daughter of Jethro? When Mosheh heard, he trembled and swooned. But they wept, and cried, Listen! And they stood at the door of the tabernacle of ordinance.

Targum Jonathan on Numbers 25:6

Pinchas and the Midianite Woman

COMMENTARY

Pinchas' drastic action against Zimri was driven not just by idolatry but by the act of sleeping with a Midianite woman, highlighting the need to develop a revulsion towards the Midianites to prevent future sins. The 18th-century commentary Or HaChaim by Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar delves into the motivations behind Pinchas' actions and the broader implications for the Israelites' relationship with the Midianites.

It seems dear that the principal issue that caused Pinchas to kill Zimri was not the fact that he had committed idol worship of the Baal-Pe-or, but his sleeping with a Midianite woman. Moreover, the plague occurred because of the people who indulged in sexual intercourse with the Moabites, and the Torah says that Pinchas atoned for the children of Israel, i.e. that his deed led to the arrest of the plague so that it did not kill the entire nation. Some of the people who were saved by Pinchas' deed had entertained idolatrous thoughts, others had engaged in illicit sex…

Or HaChaim on Numbers 25:17:5

Divine Victory Over Midian

TANAKH

Gideon's miraculous victory over Midian with just 300 men underscores the importance of faith and divine intervention. The Book of Judges recounts how God instructed Gideon to reduce his army to a small, specific group to ensure that the victory would be seen as a result of divine intervention.

Then GOD said to Gideon, “I will deliver you and I will put Midian into your hands through the three hundred ‘lappers’; let the rest of the troops go home.”

Judges 7:7

Divine Vengeance Against Midian

TANAKH

The divine command for Israel to avenge themselves on the Midianites underscores the concept of divine vengeance and justice. The Torah recounts God's command to Moses to lead the Israelites in avenging themselves against the Midianites for their transgressions.

“Avenge the Israelite people on the Midianites; then you shall be gathered to your kin.” Moses spoke to the militia, saying, “Let troops be picked out from among you for a campaign, and let them fall upon Midian to wreak יהוה’s vengeance on Midian.

Numbers 31:2-3

The Seduction Strategy

SECOND TEMPLE

Balaam's counsel to the Midianites led to a significant crisis for the Israelites, highlighting the dangers of abandoning their laws and worship. In his first-century work, Josephus recounts the strategic use of seduction by the Midianites to undermine the Israelites' faith and provoke divine anger.

6. But Balak being very angry that the Israelites were not cursed, sent away Balaam without thinking him worthy of any honor. Whereupon, when he was just upon his journey, in order to pass the Euphrates, he sent for Balak, and for the princes of the Midianites, and spake thus to them: - "O Balak, and you Midianites that are here present, (for I am obliged even without the will of God to gratify you,) it is true no entire destruction can seize upon the nation of the Hebrews, neither by war, nor by plague, nor by scarcity of the fruits of the earth…

The Antiquities of the Jews 4:6:6

The Divine Plan Behind the Midianite Campaign

COMMENTARY

The punitive campaign against the Midianites, but not the Moabites, was to ensure the birth of Ruth the Moabite, the great-grandmother of King David. Rabbeinu Bachya, a 13th-century Spanish commentator, explains the divine reasoning behind the selective campaign against the Midianites in the Torah.

צרור את המדינים, “Harass the Midianites.” After the Torah had administered the reward for the righteous, G’d commanded the people to punish the guilty. The reason the punitive campaign was directed only against the Midianites and not against the Moabites was in order to enable Ruth the Moabite, ancestral great-grandmother of David to be born in due course.

Rabbeinu Bahya, Bamidbar 25:17:1

Enemies United Against Israel

MIDRASH

The strategic alliance between Moab and Midian, despite their historical enmity, showcases the lengths to which they went to bring ruin upon Israel. Louis Ginzberg’s early 20th-century work, Legends of the Jews, elaborates on the biblical narrative of Balaam and the collaboration between Moab and Midian.

The Moabites now perceiving that Israel conquered their enemies by supernatural means said, "Their leader had been bred in Midian, let us therefore inquire of the Midianites about his characteristics." When the elders of Midian were consulted, they replied, "His strength abides in his mouth." "Then," said the Moabites, "we shall oppose to him a man whose strength lies in his mouth as well," and the determined to call upon Balaam's support. The union of Moab and Midian establishes the truth of the proverb: "Weasel and Cat had a feast of rejoicing over the flesh of the unfortunate Dog…

Legends of the Jews 3:5:122

Surviving the Midianite Raids

COMMENTARY

The Midianite raids caused immense suffering and forced the Israelites to take extreme defensive measures to protect themselves and their produce. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz’s modern translation and commentary on the Hebrew Bible provides a clear and engaging account of the Israelites' struggle during the time of the Judges.

The hand of Midyan, a small nation of desert nomads, prevailed against Israel. Because of Midyan, who would raid and plunder their fields, the children of Israel made for themselves the tunnels that are in the mountains, and the caves and the citadels, hiding places to safeguard themselves or their produce.

Steinsaltz on Judges 6:2

Abraham's Hidden Son Revealed

TANAKH

Midian, often associated with the Midianites in the Torah, was actually a son of Abraham from Keturah. Chronicles, the last book of the Hebrew Bible, presents a thorough genealogy of the Jewish people and their ancestors.

Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,

I Chronicles 1:30

Purification After Midian

COMMENTARY

The purification rituals required for the Israelite soldiers after their campaign against the Midianites highlight the unique religious and symbolic significance of this campaign. Chizkuni, a 13th-century Torah commentary, delves into the distinct purification process for soldiers returning from the Midianite campaign, contrasting it with other military engagements.

ביום השלישי וביום השביעי “on the third day and the seventh day;” The Torah here stresses the ritual to be performed while purifying themselves when unclean due to having killed Midianites, although it did not do so when the Israelite soldiers killed the members of the Canaanite nations during the war of conquest under the leadership of Joshua. The reason is that only 12000 soldiers were involved in the campaign against the Midianites, whereas the entire male population was involved in the war of conquest…

Chizkuni, Numbers 31:19:3

The Skeptical Elders of Midian

TALMUD

The elders of Midian doubted Balaam's ability to curse the Israelites, believing that God would not act against His own people. The Talmudic tractate Sanhedrin recounts the skepticism of the Midianite elders and their departure from Balaam.

It is written: “And the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam” (Numbers 22:8). The Gemara asks: And to where did the princes of Midian who accompanied the princes of Moab go? The Gemara answers: Once Balaam said to them: “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word when the Lord speaks to me” (Numbers 22:8), the elders of Midian said: If he seeks permission from the Lord, he will not join us, as is there any father who hates his son? Certainly the Lord will help the Jewish people.

Sanhedrin 105a:14

Tzur's Leadership Unveiled

COMMENTARY

Tzur, one of the five kings of Midian, was considered the most prominent leader among them, despite being the head of only one paternal house. The Siftei Chakhamim commentary on Rashi’s interpretation of the Torah provides deeper insights into the prominence of Tzur among the Midianite kings.

One of the five kings of Midian. That is to say, that when it is written, “The national leader” this implies that Tzur was the head of [all of] them. However, afterwards it is written, “Of a paternal house” which implies that he was only the head of a paternal house. Rashi answers that he was certainly only the head of one of the five paternal houses of Midian, however he was the most prominent of all of them and this is why it is written, “The national leader.”

Siftei Chakhamim, Numbers 25:15:3