Exodus 3:1 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
3 Now Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
The Midianites were descendants of Abraham’s son Midian and are collectively referred to as “Midian” and “Midianites.” (Num. 31:2-3) However, there are times when the Bible seems to refer to them as Ishmaelites. (See Gen. 37:25, 27, 28, 36; 39:1; Jg 8:22, 24.) This may mean that the sons of Abraham Ishmael and Midian were similar in their way of life, and there may have been an additional combining or uniting through intermarriage among the two peoples. It also seems that some of the Kenites were known as Midianites. Because the Midianites were descendants of Abraham, it is likely they spoke a language that closely resembled Hebrew. Gideon, for example, clearly had no difficulty in understanding the Midianites. (Jg 7:13-15; 8:18-19) However, it is also possible that Gideon learned the language of the Midianites, as Israel had been under their control for seven years. – Judges 6:1.
In the days of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the patriarchal times [a culture in which men were the ones who lead the family, especially the oldest living male]. Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, a Kenite, was the patriarchal head of the Midianite tribe. The Midianites were actually related to the Israelites, as they were descendants of Keturah. Therefore, it is quite possible that they might have been familiar with the worship of Jehovah, the Israelite God. (Gen. 25:1-2) Jethro, the priest likely officially represented God as they understood Him to the Midianite people he served, instructing them about God and their laws as it relates to God.
EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).
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