1. Ḳĕṭûrāh, called a 'concubine' in 1 Ch. 132 (cf. v.6
below), is here a wife, the death of Sarah being presupposed.
The name occurs nowhere else, and is probably fictitious,
though Arabian genealogists speak of a tribe Ḳaṭūra in the
vicinity of Mecca (Kn.-Di.). There is no 'absurdity' (De.)
in the suggestion that it may contain an allusion to the
traffic in incense ((
Hebrew characters)) which passed through these regions
(see Mey. INS, 313).—2-4. The Ḳeṭurean stock is divided
into 6 (G 7) main branches, of which only one, Midian,
attained historic importance. The minor groups number 10
(G 12), including the well-known names Sheba and Dedan.
2. (Hebrew characters) ((Greek characters), (Greek characters), etc.) has been connected with the (Greek characters)
[(Greek characters) ?] of Ptol. vi. 7. 5, W of Mecca (Kn.); and with the Zamareni
of Pliny, HN, vi. 158, in the interior; but these are probably too far S.
The name is probably derived from (Hebrew characters) = 'wild goat,' the ending ān
(which is common in the Ḳeṭurean and Ḥorite lists and rare elsewhere)
being apparently gentilic: cf. (Hebrew characters), Nu. 2514, 1 Ch. 26 836 942. A connexion
with (Hebrew characters) (S (Syriac characters)), Jer. 2525 is very doubtful. On (Hebrew characters) ((Greek characters), (Greek characters),
etc.) see on v.3—(Hebrew characters) ((Greek characters))] unknown. Wetzstein instances a Wādī
Medān near the ruins of Daidan.—(Hebrew characters) ((Greek characters))] The name appears
as (Greek characters) = (Greek characters) in Ptol. vi. 7. 2, 27 (cf. Jos. Ant. ii. 257; Eus. OS,
p. 276), the Madyan of Ar. geogr., a town on the E side of the Gulf of
Aḳaba, opposite the S end of the Sinaitic peninsula (see Nö. EB, 3081).
The chief seat of this great tribe or nation must therefore have been in
the northern Ḥiǧāz, whence roving bands ravaged the territory of Moab,
Edom (Gn. 3635), and Israel (Ju. 6-8). The mention of Midianites in the
neighbourhood of Horeb may be due to a confusion between J and E
(see Mey. INS, 3 f.); and after the time of the Judges they practically
disappear from history. "As to their occupations, we sometimes find
them described as peaceful shepherds, sometimes as merchants [Gn.
3728. 36, Is. 606], sometimes as roving warriors, delighting to raid the
more settled districts" (Nö.).—(Hebrew characters) and (Hebrew characters) have been identified by Frd.
Delitzsch (ZKF, ii. 91 f., Par. 297 f.) and Glaser (ii. 445 f.), with Yasbuḳ
and Sûḫu of Ass. monuments (KIB, i. 159, 33, 99, 101), both regions of
northern Syria. Del. has since abandoned the latter identification (Hiob,
139) for phonetic reasons.—3. (Hebrew characters) and (Hebrew characters)] see on 107. As they are there
bracketed under (Hebrew characters), so here under (Hebrew characters), a name otherwise unknown.
The equation with (Hebrew characters) (1025ff.), proposed by Tu. and accepted by Mey.
(318), is phonologically difficult. Since the Sabæans are here still in the
N, it would seem that this genealogy goes farther back than that of the
Yokṭanite Arabs in ch. 10. Between Sheba and Dedan, G ins. (Greek characters)
(= (Hebrew characters), v.15).—3b. The sons of Dedan are wanting in 1 Ch., and are probably
interpolated here (note the pl.). G has in addition (Greek characters) (cf.
3610) (Greek characters) (cf. v.13).—(Hebrew characters)] certainly not the Assyrians ((Hebrew characters)), but
some obscure N Arabian tribe,—possibly the (Hebrew characters) mentioned on two
