In the genealogical records of the patriarchs, certain names serve as milestones, marking the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that he would be a “father of many nations” (Genesis 17:4). Eldaah is one such name. Though his life is not detailed in a narrative, his heritage and the meaning of his name contribute to the tapestry of the post-flood world and the expansion of the Semitic peoples.
The Grandson of Abraham and Keturah
Eldaah was a descendant of Abraham through his second wife (or concubine), Keturah. After the death of Sarah, Abraham took Keturah, who bore him six sons, one of whom was Midian. Eldaah was the last of the five sons born to Midian, making him a grandson of Abraham.
“And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.” (Genesis 25:4, KJV)
His name is also preserved in the genealogical records of the Chronicles, ensuring that his place in the history of the families of the earth remains recognized.
“And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons of Keturah.” (1 Chronicles 1:33, KJV)
The Meaning: “God has Called”
The name Eldaah (Hebrew: ‘Elda’ah) is a theophoric name, meaning “God has called” or “God of knowledge.” In an era when many nations were beginning to drift toward the worship of nature and idols, the preservation of such a name within the line of Midian suggests a lingering recognition of the one true God (El) among the descendants of Abraham who were sent into the “east country.”
A Prince of the Desert
As a son of Midian, Eldaah was one of the progenitors of the Midianite tribes. These peoples became the nomadic, camel-riding merchants and warriors who inhabited the vast desert regions east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea.
While the Midianites would later have a complex and often adversarial relationship with the nation of Israel—ranging from the days of Moses to the era of Gideon—their origin was rooted in the house of Abraham. Eldaah and his brothers represented the “gifts” that Abraham gave to his sons by Keturah before sending them away from his heir, Isaac, to establish their own nations.
“But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.” (Genesis 25:6, KJV)
The Sovereignty of God over the Nations
The inclusion of Eldaah in the Holy Scriptures serves as a reminder that the eyes of the Lord are upon all the families of the earth. Though he was not of the covenant line of Isaac, he was a child of promise in the sense that he was part of the “multitude” of nations God promised to Abraham.
The story of Eldaah reminds us that every branch of the human family tree is known to God. From the desert reaches of the east to the promised hills of Canaan, the “God of knowledge” (as his name implies) knows those who are His and tracks the course of every nation according to His divine will.