Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(strife). Son of Abraham, and founder of Midianites (Gen. 25:2; Ex. 3:1; Num. 22:4; Judg. 7:13).
Concise Bible Dictionary:
Son of Abraham and Keturah, and his descendants (Gen. 25:2-4). They were located far south, on the west of the Gulf of Akaba, and east of Mount Horeb. That they extended however much farther north is proved by the intercourse they had with the Israelites when in the land; unless, as some suppose, the term Midianites was not restricted to this tribe. Moses, when he fled from the king of Egypt, found shelter in Midian (Ex. 2:15-22).
The next reference to them is where they joined with Moab in soliciting Balaam to curse Israel when on the border of the land; and it was with the Midianites that Israel committed fornication (Num. 22:4,7; Num. 25:6-18). Moses was told to make war with them, and we read that the Israelites slew all the males, burnt all their cities and goodly castles, and afterward put the women to death; on which occasion Balaam also was slain (Num. 31:1-18).
During the time of the judges, because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord, He “delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years”; but when, being greatly oppressed, they cried unto the Lord, He raised up Gideon and there was a great slaughter of the Midianites, “so that they lifted up their heads no more” against Israel. Nothing is recorded of them during the time of the kingdom (Num. 10:29; Judg. 6-8; 1 Kings 11:18; Psa. 83:9-11; Isa. 9:4; Isa. 10:26; Isa. 60:6; Hab. 3:7). Midian is called MADIAN in Acts 7:29.
Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:
contention: strife