Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Strife, the fourth son of Abraham by Keturah, the father of the Midianites (Gen. 25:2; 1 Chr. 1:32).
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
(strife), a son of Abraham and Keturah, (Genesis 25:2; 1 Chronicles 1:32) progenitor of the Midianites, or Arabians dwelling principally in the desert north of the peninsula of Arabia. Southward they extended along the eastern shore of the Gulf of Eyleh (Sinus AElaniticus); and northward they stretched along the eastern frontier of Palestine. The “land of Midian,” the place to which Moses fled after having killed the Egyptian, (Exodus 2:15,21) or the portion of it specially referred to, was probably the peninsula of Sinai.
The influence of the Midianties on the Israelites was clearly most evil, and directly tended to lead them from the injunctions of Moses. The events at Shittim occasioned the injunction to vex Midian and smite them. After a lapse of some years, the Midianites appear again as the enemies of the Israelites, oppressing them for seven years, but are finally defeated with great slaughter by Gideon. [Gideon] The Midianites are described as true Arabs, and possessed cattle and flocks and camels as the sand of the seashore for multitude.
The spoil taken in the war of both Moses and of Gideon is remarkable. (Numbers 31:22; Judges 8:21,24-26) We have here a wealthy Arab nation, living by plunder, delighting in finery; and, where forays were impossible, carrying ont he traffic southward into Arabia, the land of gold—if not naturally, by trade— and across to Chaldea, or into the rich plains of Egypt.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary
MID'IAN (strife). The territory of Midian extended, according to some scholars, from the Elanitic Gulf to Moab and Mount Sinai, or, according to others, from the Sinaitic peninsula to the desert and the banks of the Euphrates. The people traded with Palestine, Lebanon, and Egypt. Gen 37:28. Joseph was probably bought by them, perhaps in companv with Ishmaelites. See Gen 37:25, Gen 37:27-28, Eze 23:36, and Gen 25:2, Ex 6:4, Jud 4:12, Ex 17:16. Moses dwelt in Midian. Ex 2:15-21; Num 10:29. Midian joined Moab against Israel and enticed that nation into sin, for which it was destroyed.
Num 22, Num 24, Num 25. Later, Midian recovered, became a powerful nation, and oppressed the Hebrews, but were miraculously defeated by Gideon. Jud 6:1-40; Jud 7:1-25; Jud 8:1-28; Ps 83:9, Rev 1:11; Isa 9:4; Hab 3:7. The Midianites henceforward became gradually incorporated with the neighboring Moabites and Arabians.
In the region east of Edom and Moab are many ancient ruins, and portions of the territory are of great fertility, producing bountiful crops for the modern Arabs - the tribe of Beni Sakk'r, which bears considerable resemblance in race, character, and habits to what is known of the ancient Midianites. "Curtains of Midian," Hab 3:7, is a figurative expression denoting the borders or inhabitants of Midian.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
judgment; covering; habit