Verse 4 list five sons of Midian. More is known of these than of any of the other names. Ephah is associated with Midian in Isa 60.6. Nothing is known of Epher. Hanoch is the same as the name of the patriarch Enoch. See 4.17; 5.18-24. The names of Abida and Eldaah are found in ancient stone inscriptions and as the names of kings.

All these were the children: this is the same wording as used of the sons of Joktan in 10.29. Here children refers to offspring of at least three generations, and so “descendants” is more appropriate in English. We may also translate, for example, “All these people were descendants of Keturah.” Verse 4 completes the genealogy of descendants born to Abraham and Keturah.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .