Keturah

Wife (or concubine) of Abraham after the death of Sarah. Mother of six sons who became ancestors of various Arabian tribes.

Children

According to Genesis 25:1-4, Keturah bore Abraham six sons:

• Zimran
• Jokshan
• Medan
• Midian
• Ishbak
• Shuah

Through Midian, she is considered an ancestor of the Midianites, the people among whom Moses lived during his exile and from whom he took his wife Zipporah.

Status

Genesis 25:1 calls her Abraham’s wife, while 1 Chronicles 1:32 refers to her as a concubine. Jewish tradition generally considers her a secondary wife taken after Sarah’s death.

Inheritance

Abraham gave gifts to Keturah’s sons but sent them away to the east, reserving his inheritance for Isaac (Genesis 25:5-6).