1:32 The sons to whom Keturah, Abraham’s concubine, 1 gave birth:
Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, Shuah.
The sons of Jokshan:
Sheba and Dedan.
1:33 The sons of Midian:
Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.
1 sn A concubine was a slave woman in ancient Near Eastern societies who was the legal property of her master, but who could have legitimate sexual relations with her master. A concubine’s status was more elevated than a mere servant, but she was not free and did not have the legal rights of a free wife. The children of a concubine could, in some instances, become equal heirs with the children of the free wife. After the period of the Judges concubines may have become more of a royal prerogative (2 Sam 21:10-14; 1 Kgs 11:3).
2 sn The kingdom of Zimri is mentioned nowhere else, so its location is unknown.
3 sn See further Jer 49:34-39 for judgment against Elam.
4 sn Elam and Media were east of Babylon; Elam in the south and Media in the north. They were in what is now western Iran.