Medan, son of Abraham

According to the Bible, Medan (Hebrew: מְדָן Məḏān "contention; to twist, conflict"); also spelt Madan[1] was the third son of Abraham, the patriarch of the Israelites, and Keturah whom he wed after the death of Sarah.[2][3] Medan had five brothers, Zimran, Jokshan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.[4]

Josephus tells us that "Abraham contrived to settle them in colonies; and they took possession of Troglodytis and the country of Arabia Felix (Arabia the Happy), as far as it reaches to the Red Sea."[5] Little else is known about him.[6]

There is no known connection to the Madan people of Iran and Iraq.

  1. ^ Josephus, Flavius, Antiquities, 1.15.1
  2. ^ Genesis 25:2–6
  3. ^ 1Chronicles 1:32
  4. ^ Genesis 25:1–6
  5. ^ Josephus, Flavius, Antiquities, 1.15.1
  6. ^ Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 1, Review and Herald Publishing Association (Washington, D.C., USA), 1953, p.367