Kenites קֵינִי
A nomadic tribe friendly to the Israelites
Who is Kenites in the Bible?
The Kenites were a nomadic tribe living in Canaan who maintained generally friendly relations with the Israelites throughout the Old Testament. First mentioned in Genesis 15:19 as one of the peoples inhabiting the land promised to Abraham, the Kenites are described in Numbers 24:21 as having a secure dwelling place, possibly reflecting their skill in metalworking. Members of the Kenites, including those connected to Moses' father-in-law Jethro, joined with the tribe of Judah and settled in the Negev region during the Israelite conquest of Canaan (Judges 1:16). The Kenites provided crucial support to Israel on multiple occasions, most notably through Jael, who aided the Israelite judge Deborah (Judges 4:17, 5:24), and they were shown special mercy by King Saul because of their historical kindness to Israel (1 Samuel 15:6). Their significance in biblical narrative lies in their role as faithful allies who demonstrated that covenant blessing and assistance extended beyond Israel's borders to those who chose to support God's people.
Biography
The Kenites were a nomadic tribe mentioned throughout the Old Testament. They lived in the region of Canaan and were generally friendly to the Israelites, often providing them with assistance and support.
The Kenites are first mentioned in Gen.15.19 as one of the tribes inhabiting the land that God promised to give to Abraham's descendants. In Num.24.21, the Kenites are described as having a strong and secure dwelling place, possibly indicating their skill in metalworking and their strategic location.
During the Israelites' conquest of Canaan, the Kenites, particularly Hobab (also known as Jethro), Moses' father-in-law, joined the tribe of Judah and settled in the Negev region (Jdg.1.16). The Kenites maintained a close relationship with the Israelites, as evidenced by the story of Jael, a Kenite woman who killed Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army, aiding the Israelite victory (Jdg.4.11, 17-22; 5.24).
The Kenites' loyalty to the Israelites is further demonstrated when Saul, during his campaign against the Amalekites, warned the Kenites to separate themselves from the Amalekites to avoid being destroyed along with them (1Sa.15.6). The Kenites heeded this warning and remained on friendly terms with the Israelites.
Later, during David's time as a fugitive from Saul, he sent gifts to the Kenites, among other friendly tribes, acknowledging their support (1Sa.27.10; 30.29).
In 1Ch.2.55, the Kenites are mentioned as scribes living in Jabez, suggesting that some Kenites may have taken on administrative roles within Israelite society.
Throughout the biblical narrative, the Kenites are portrayed as a friendly and supportive tribe to the Israelites, playing a role in their early history and settlement in the Promised Land.
In Scripture
5 biblical books ; 1 with study contentGenesis 1 verse
- Genesis 15:19
"the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,"
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Numbers 1 verse
- Numbers 24:21
"Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff."
Judges 4 verses
- Judges 1:16
"Now the descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went up with the men of Judah from the City of Palms to the Wilderness of Judah in the Negev near Arad. They went to live among the people."
- Judges 4:11
"Now Heber the Kenite had moved away from the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent by the great tree of Zaanannim, which was near Kedesh."
- Judges 4:17
"Meanwhile, Sisera had fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite."
- Judges 5:24
"Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women."
1 Samuel 3 verses
- 1 Samuel 15:6
"And he warned the Kenites, “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt, go on and get away from the Amalekites. Otherwise I will sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites."
- 1 Samuel 27:10
"who would ask him, “What have you raided today?” And David would reply, “The Negev of Judah,” or “The Negev of Jerahmeel,” or “The Negev of the Kenites.”"
- 1 Samuel 30:29
"to those in Racal and in the cities of the Jerahmeelites and Kenites;"
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 2:55
"and the clans of the scribes who lived at Jabez—the Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Hebrew | קֵינִי |
| Group | Hebrew | קַ֫יִן |
Kenites
ther peoples. They are first mentioned along with the Kadmonites and Kenizzites among the peoples whose land was promised to Abram (Ge 15:19). Balaam, seeing them from the heights of Moab; puns upon their name, which resembles the Hebrew ken, "a nest," prophesying their destruction although their nest was "set in the rock"--possibly a reference to Sela, the city. Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, is called "the priest of Midian" in Ex 3:1; 18:1; but in Jud 1:16 he is described as a Kenite, showing a close relation between the Kenites and Midian. At the time of Sisera's overthrow, Heber, a Kenite, at "peace" with Jabin, king of Hazor, pitched his tent far North of his ancestral seats (Jud 4:17). There were Kenites dwelling among the Amalekites in the time of Saul (1Sa 15:6). They were spared because they had "showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt." David, in his answer to Achish, links the Kenites with the inhabitants of the South of Judah (1Sa 27:10). Among the ancestors of the tribe of Judah, the Chronicler includes the Kenite Hammath, the father of the Rechabites (1Ch 2:55). These last continued to live in tents, practicing the ancient nomadic customs (Jer 35:6).ichly varied landscape, With smiling cornfields, and hills clothed with oak and terebinth.
The word qeni in Aramaic means "smith." Professor Sayce thinks they may really have been a tribe of smiths, resembling "the gipsies of modern Europe, as well as the traveling tinkers or blacksmiths of the Middle Ages" (HDB, under the word). This would account for their relations with the different peoples, among whom they would reside in pursuit of their calling.
In Josephus they appear as Kenetides, and in Ant, IV, vii, 3 he calls them "the race of the Shechemites."
W. Ewing
ken'-i-zit.
See KENEZITE.
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