Midianitess
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The term "Midianitess" refers to a woman from the ancient people of Midian, a group frequently mentioned in the Old Testament. The Midianites were descendants of Midian, one of the sons of Abraham through his wife Keturah, as recorded in Genesis 25:1-2: "Now Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah, and she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah." The Midianites were thus related to the Israelites, sharing a common ancestry through Abraham.

The Midianites are often depicted in the Bible as both adversaries and allies of the Israelites. They inhabited the region east of the Jordan River and the Sinai Peninsula, and their interactions with the Israelites were complex, involving both conflict and cooperation.

One of the most notable references to a Midianitess in the Bible is found in the account of Phinehas in Numbers 25. The Israelites, while camped at Shittim, began to engage in idolatry and immorality with the Moabite and Midianite women. This led to God's anger and a subsequent plague among the Israelites. Numbers 25:6-8 describes a specific incident involving a Midianitess: "Just then, one of the Israelites came and brought a Midianite woman to his family in the sight of Moses and the whole congregation of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. On seeing this, Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, left the assembly, took a spear in his hand, followed the Israelite into the tent, and drove the spear through both of them—through the Israelite and the woman. So the plague against the Israelites was halted."

This Midianitess, named Cozbi, was the daughter of a Midianite leader, and her involvement with the Israelite man Zimri was seen as a direct affront to God's commandments. The zealous act of Phinehas in executing judgment upon them is credited with stopping the plague, and it earned him a covenant of peace from God, as stated in Numbers 25:12-13 : "Declare, therefore, that I am granting him My covenant of peace. It will be a covenant of perpetual priesthood for him and his descendants, because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites."

The Midianites, including the Midianitess women, are also mentioned in the context of the Israelites' military campaigns. In Numbers 31, God commands Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites for their role in leading Israel into sin. The subsequent battle results in the defeat of the Midianites, and the capture of their women and children. Numbers 31:7-9 records, "Then they waged war against Midian, as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed every male. Among the slain were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all their herds, flocks, and goods as plunder."

The Midianitess women, therefore, play a significant role in the narrative of Israel's journey to the Promised Land, serving as both a source of temptation and a catalyst for divine judgment. Their interactions with the Israelites highlight the recurring theme of the dangers of idolatry and the importance of faithfulness to God's covenant.
Strong's Hebrew
3579. Kozbi -- a woman of Midian
... Word Origin from kazab Definition a woman of Midian NASB Word Usage Cozbi (2). Cozbi.
From kazab; false; Cozbi, a Midianitess -- Cozbi. see HEBREW kazab. ...
/hebrew/3579.htm - 6k
Library

The Marvels of Holy Scripture, --Moral and Physical. --Jael's Deed ...
... oppressor of God's people hastening to her tent, slumbering at her feet, and
unexpectedly within her power:"will you pretend that she, a Midianitess, is to ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/sermon vii the marvels of.htm

Thesaurus
Midianitess (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Midianitess (3 Occurrences). Numbers 25:6 And
lo, a man of the sons of Israel hath come, and bringeth in ...
/m/midianitess.htm - 7k

Midianitish (4 Occurrences)
... mid'-i-an-it-ish, (ha-midhyanith, "the Midianitess"): The designation given to the
daughter of Zur, Cozbi, whom Zimri the son of Salu brought into the camp of ...
/m/midianitish.htm - 8k

Zimri (16 Occurrences)
... The next paragraph (25:6-9) relates how the people engage in public mourning; but
while they do this Zimri brings in among his brethren a Midianitess. ...
/z/zimri.htm - 18k

Smitten (215 Occurrences)
... Numbers 25:14 And the name of the man of Israel who is smitten, who hath been smitten
with the Midianitess, 'is' Zimri son of Salu, prince of the house of a ...
/s/smitten.htm - 38k

Mid'ianites (12 Occurrences)
Mid'ianites. Midianites, Mid'ianites. Midianitess . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(DBY RSV). Midianites, Mid'ianites. Midianitess . Reference Bible.
/m/mid'ianites.htm - 9k

Woman (4043 Occurrences)
... mid'-i-an-it-ish, (ha-midhyanith, "the Midianitess"): The designation given to the
daughter of Zur, Cozbi, whom Zimri the son of Salu brought into the camp of ...
/w/woman.htm - 45k

Bringeth (313 Occurrences)
... Numbers 25:6 And lo, a man of the sons of Israel hath come, and bringeth in unto
his brethren the Midianitess, before the eyes of Moses, and before the eyes of ...
/b/bringeth.htm - 37k

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Concordance
Midianitess (3 Occurrences)

Numbers 25:6
And lo, a man of the sons of Israel hath come, and bringeth in unto his brethren the Midianitess, before the eyes of Moses, and before the eyes of all the company of the sons of Israel, who are weeping at the opening of the tent of meeting;
(YLT)

Numbers 25:14
And the name of the man of Israel who is smitten, who hath been smitten with the Midianitess, 'is' Zimri son of Salu, prince of the house of a father of the Simeonite;
(YLT)

Numbers 25:15
and the name of the woman who is smitten, the Midianitess, 'is' Cozbi daughter of Zur, head of a people -- of the house of a father in Midian 'is' he.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Midianitess

Related Terms

Mid'ianite (5 Occurrences)

Zimri (16 Occurrences)

Woman (4043 Occurrences)

Tribal (25 Occurrences)

Midian's (1 Occurrence)

Mid'ian (47 Occurrences)

Midianitess (3 Occurrences)

Silver-pieces (6 Occurrences)

Israelite (83 Occurrences)

Doorway (221 Occurrences)

Entrance (190 Occurrences)

Midianites: Terrified at Approach of Israel
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