A Midianite remained to guide the Israelites through the wilderness, and the Kenites, who took part with the tribe of Judah in the conquest of Canaan, appear to have migrated from Midian.

It was not until just before the invasion of Palestine that the old bonds of friendship and mixture between Israel and Midian were broken asunder.

Midianite hosts had overrun the land of Moab as at a later time they overran the land of Israel, and the Israelites had forsaken Yahveh for the worship of the Midianite Baal-Peor.

This was the result of intermarriage; the Israelites had taken Midianite wives and conformed to the licentious rites of a Midianite god.
Israel, however, was saved by its Levite priests.

They rallied round Yahveh and Moses, and in the struggle that ensued the forces on the side of the national God proved the stronger.