Abida
אֲבִידָע/uh-BYE-duh/
“Father of knowledge, or my father knows”
Summary
A son of Midian and grandson of Abraham through Keturah, who became the head of an Arabian tribe.
☩Identity and Lineage
Abida was the fourth of five sons born to Midian, who was himself a son of Abraham by his concubine Keturah. This made Abida a grandson of Abraham, though through the Midianite rather than the Israelite line.
Key verses:Genesis 25:41 Chronicles 1:33
☩Historical Context
As a descendant of Midian, Abida is presumed to have been the head of an Arabian tribe dwelling in the peninsula of Arabia. Josephus refers to him as Ebidas.
Key verses:Genesis 25:1-4
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Abida," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Abida," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).