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Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah. Genesis 25:1
Because of some questions people have had about Keturah (Abraham’s third wife), we are going to take a closer look at her. Here is one of the first questions I was asked; where is Keturah found, in what writings is she mentioned?
Let's start with the Bible. In Genesis 25:1 it says, "Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah." Then in I Chronicles 1:32 it says, "Now the sons born to Keturah, Abraham's concubine, were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan were Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah."
In Josephus, she is mentioned in 15:1; "Abraham after this married Keturah, by whom six sons were born to him, men of courage and of wise minds." In the book of Jubilees 19:11 it says, "And Abraham took to himself a third wife, and her name was Keturah, from among the daughters of his household servants, for Hagar had died before Sarah, and she bare him six sons, Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah, in the two weeks of years." There are other writings that mention Keturah, but they are mostly commentary on the sources I have already mentioned.
Keturah actually helped in the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham. In Genesis 17:5 it says, "No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations." This verse has at least two different fulfillments.
There is the spiritual fulfillment; the righteous line of Isaac is made up of people from every nation on earth. We can all claim Abraham as our father if we have accepted the finished work of Christ on our behalf. But it is also true that through Ishmael, Isaac, and the six sons of Keturah, Abraham was the literal biological father of many nations.
As we try to keep our focus on Keturah, we find nothing in a negative sense. If she was from Abraham's servants (as stated in the book of Jubilees), then she would have known Abraham in a personal way long before she became his wife. She would have known his temperament, his likes and dislikes, as well as his character. We don't know all that she experienced living amongst his people, but she seemed to fit the man (Abraham) very well.
If you compare the account of Sarah with that of Keturah, it would seem that Keturah was like living in peace and harmony with someone who came alongside to help. Sarah may have been a real "looker," but she was also a lot of trouble. She laughed at God, and told Abraham to take Hagar as a wife. After Abraham listened to her, then she condemned him because he did what she asked him to do. She was also reproved by Abimelech for having roving (flirting eyes), Genesis 20:16. We find nothing like this concerning Keturah.
In some ways, she was a very important person in Jewish history. Abraham had circumcised Ishmael and Isaac into the covenant or the Jewish nation. There would be no reason to think that he didnát circumcise the six sons he had to Keturah. They were all men of courage, and of wise minds.
Are we pleasant people, are we easy-going like Keturah? If we are, we will be a blessing to those around us. We will also set an example of Christ-likeness.
Comments or questions, contact me at: thoughtsonword@gmail.com
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Lyndon Stimeling, of Richfield, has been writing about faith and family for many years. He has self-published three books, "Common Thoughts on The Word" in 2016 and "Eye of a Needle" in 2017 and "Common Thoughts on The Word II" in 2019. He has also had articles published in The Coming Home Journal and local newspapers and has written a children's book.