The Midianites were a wise and a wily people. So long as the Israelites only traversed their out lying pasture-grounds on the west of the Arabah, they were content to cultivate their friendship ; but when, in the latter part of their journey, having passed round the southern end of Edom, they entered the proper territory of Midian, the Midianites tried every plan and used every effort to work their destruction. They consulted with their neighbours, the chiefs of Moab, and resolved to bring the pro phet Balaam to curse the powerful strangers (Num. xxii. 4-7). Balaam came, and the Lord turned the intended curse into a blessing. The prophet, how ever, adopted a more effectual mode of injuring the Israelites than by the agency of enchantments. He persuaded the women of Midian and Moab to work upon the passions of the Israelites, and entice them to the licentious festivals of their idols, and thus bring upon them the curse of heaven (xxxi. 16). This infamous scheme proved only too successful (xxv.), and had it not been checked by the almost complete annihilation of the Midianites, it would have brought destruction upon the whole host of Israel (xxv. 17; xxxi. 2). The vengeance then exe cuted upon Midian was terrible. Their cities and castles were burned ; the entire males that fell into the hands of the conquerors were put to death, and with them all the married females; and the young women and children were reduced to slavery. It has been affirmed that these acts of vengeance are so cruel, so barbarous in their character, that they could never have been prompted by a God of love, and that, therefore, the narrative cannot be con sidered as of divine authority. Those who bring such an accusation against. the Scriptures must surely overlook the leading circumstances of the case—they must forget that the God of love is also the God of justice. The whole Midianitish nation, male and female, had deliberately combined and conspired by wile and stratagem, to wean the Is raelites from their allegiance to the God of heaven ; and not only so, but wantonly to allure them to the commission of the most foul and degrading crimes. Was it inconsistent with justice for the moral Go vernor of the universe to punish such guilt ? Could any punishment less sweeping have freed the earth from crime so deep-rooted and so dangerous ? The details of this war given by Moses afford us some little insight into the nature of the country of Midian, and the occupations of the people. The Midianites were not pure nomads ; they had cities and goodly castles (xxxi. so). Their principal wealth consisted, however, in flocks and herds, for the Israelites captured 675,000 sheep, 72,00o beeves, and 61,00o asses. It is singular that camels are not mentioned ; but it is probable that as the Israelites were all footmen, the camels escaped to the desert. Recent investigations have shown that the whole desert east of Edom and Moab is thickly studded with the ruins of ancient cities and castles (Wallin, in Journal of R. G.S., xxiv. 115, seq. ; Porter, Da mascus, ii. z88; Wetzstein, Reisebericht iiber Hastran, etc. ; Graham, in Journal of R.G.S. for 1859). These were doubtless the habitations of the Midi anites. The whole region around their cities, extending from the mountains of Hauran to the 2Elanitic Gulf; though now dreary and desolate, is not barren. In spring and early summer it is covered with vegetation, and it has many rich val leys, a few patches of which are still here and there cultivated by the Arab tribes. Everywhere there are evidences of partial cultivation in former days, and there are also traces of a comparatively dense population.
Some time previous to the exodus it appears that the Midianites had allied themselves closely to the Moabites. Sihon, king of the Amorites, made war upon Moab and Ammon, conquered a large part of their territory, and retained possession of it (Judg. xi. 13-23). At the same time he made Milian, the ally of Moab, tributary ; and hence the five princes of Midian are called by Joshua vassals ('Z'D); Keil on gosh. xiii. 21) or dukes' of Sihon. The defeat of Sihon by the Israelites
secured the freedom of the Midianites ; and then they, fearing that they should in like manner be subdued by Moses, conspired to destroy Israel, and thus brought destruction upon themselves. The govern ment of Midian was doubtless similar to that of all the nations of Arabia—patriarchal The nation was divided into a number of tribes, each of which was independent, and led by its own sheikh or chief. In time of common danger or of war, the sheikhs of the various tribes formed a council, but always acknowledged the presidency of the head of ore leading family, who was (and still is) styled the prince' (Emir) of the nation. Five of the sheikhs of Midian are mentioned in Judges as sub jects of Sihon. In Num. xxxi. 8 they are called kings' (N]50) ; while in chap. xxii. 4, Moab is said to have consulted with the elders' CM) of Midian. The great Arab tribes have two classes of chiefs : one class is composed of the rulers of the leading divisions of the tribe ; the other of the rulers of subdivisions. The former are hereditary, the latter are simply influential or warlike men who, by their talents, have gathered round them a num ber of families. It would seem to be the former class—the hereditary rulers of Midian—who are called 'kings ;' while the others, the influential leaders or senators of the tribe, are termed elders.' There is no farther mention of the Midianites in history for two hundred years. During that period the nation had completely recovered its an cient influence and power, and they again turned their arms against their old enemies the Israelites. For seven years they oppressed them so grievously that the people were forced to flee from the open country, and to seek an asylum in mountain fast nesses, in caves, and in fortified cities (Judg. vi. 1, 2). Midian was now at the head of a great con federacy, comprising the Amalekites and the lead ing tribes of Arabia, called by the sacred historian Beni Kedem (` children of the East,' ver. 3). In early spring the confederates assembled their vast flocks and herds, descended through the defiles of Gilead, crossed the Jordan, and overran the rich plains of central Palestine, plundering and destroy ing all before them= sheep, oxen, asses,' property, the young corn, and the luxuriant pastures : 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' (ver. 5). In their distress the Israelites cried unto the Lord, and he sent a deliverer in the person of Gideon (ver. 8-13). The invaders were concentrated on Esdraelon—their flocks covering the whole of that splendid plain, and their encampment lying along the base of the hill of Moreh,' now called little Hermon (ver. 33 ; vii. 12). Gideon assembled his band of warriors at the well of Harod, or foun tain of Jezreel, situated at the foot of Gilboa, and famed in after days as the scene of Saul's defeat and death (vii. 1); Hatton. The romantic incidents of the attack, and the rout and slaughter of the Midianites, are well known. Gideon having col lected the forces of Israel (ver. 23), followed the fugitives across the Jordan, up the hills of Gilead, and away over the plain into the heart of their own country. There he completely overthrew the whole host (viii. 12). Two of their princes' literally 'generals') had already fallen at the fords of the Jordan, having been intercepted by Ephraim (vii. 25) ; but their tIvo kings' (+,:n), Zebah and Zalmunna, had escaped with the remnant of their followers to Midian. These were captured by Gideon and slain in revenge for his brothers, whom they had put to death at Tabor (viii. 18-21). The power of Midian was completely broken. In a single campaign they lost their princes, the flower of their warriors, and their vast wealth. Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more' (viii. 28). Their name as a nation appears no more in history.