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3. When Israel had sown. Inasmuch as the Midianites were nomadic tribes, they did not conquer the land and settle down permanently. Like the Bedouins today, they preferred that the settled peoples should do the work of sowing. Then in a series of raids they would sweep over the land, confiscating the crops and driving off all the farm animals they could find. According to custom, they left the houses undestroyed in order that the farmers would be tempted to return and sow the fields once more.

Amalekites. Also nomadic peoples of the deserts south of Palestine (Ex. 17:8).

Children of the east. Literally, “the children of Kedem.” “Kedem” means “east,” but here, apparently, it should be considered a proper name designating the great Syrian Desert to the east of Moab and Ammon. Chapter 8:26 pictures the chiefs of the people of this region in gorgeous robes and golden earrings, mounted on dromedaries and camels, the necks of which were hung with moonshaped ornaments of gold. Inasmuch as the incursions described here were made by quite a number of different tribes, it is thought likely that this was a general movement of nomads caused by a lack of rain in their own districts.