death of Samuel.—(1 Sam. xxv 1.) Nearly all the wanderings of the children of Israel were in the great and terrible wilderness of Paran. (Dent. i. 19. Comp. Num. x. 12. and xii. 16.) It is now a dreary expanse of calcareous soil, covered with black flints.
Zaretan, (Josh, iii.- 16,) or Zartanah, (1 Kings iv. 12,) or Zarthan, (1 Kings vii. 46,) or Zereda, (1 Kings xi. 26,) or Zeredatha, (2 Chron. iv. 17,) or Zererath, Judg. vii. 22, are all supposed to denote one and the same place, viz. a town on the west bank of Jordan, at the place where the Israelites crossed, when the waters were gathered into a heap on either side. It was near Bethshean, and opposite to Succoth.
Midian, (Ex. ii. 15,) or Madian. (Acts vii. 29.) A country lying around the eastern branch of the Red Sea, and supposed to have been settled by the posterity of Midian, fourth son of Abraham and Keturah. Midian was celebrated for its camels, (Judg. vii. 12,) and the descendants of Ephah, who were the posterity of Midian, were rich in camels and dromedaries.—(Isa. lx. 6.) Hither Moses fled, and here he married Zipporah, an Ethiopian woman, the daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian.—(Ex. ii. 21; iii. 1; Num. xii. 1.) Jethro is also called Raguel, (Numb. x. 29,) and Reuel, (Ex. ii. 18,) and was probably known by either name. It is highly probable, too, that he was a descendant of Abraham, (Gen. xxv. 2,) but what was the nature of his office as priest, [or prince, as some say it should be rendered,] we know not.—(Num. xii. 1.)
It is supposed that another country called Midian was situated on the Dead Sea, in Arabia Petrea, adjoining Moab; but very learned geographers describe but one land of Midian, and this embraces both sides of the eastern gulf of the Red Sea, extending southwardly near to Mt. Sinai. Perhaps they might have been distinguished as Northern and Southern Midian.
There are three distinct countries mentioned in the Bible, it is believed, peopled by Cush, (Gen. x. 6—8,) the son of Ham, and father of Nimrod; and one of them was probably the same with Midian.— (Comp Ex ii 16,21.)
