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| The '''Kenites''' or '''Kainites''' (in ], '''''Kainim''''') were a tribe of the ancient ], possibly a branch of the ] nation. According to the ], they played an important role in the history of ancient ]. | |||
| The '''Kenites''' were a people whose name has been interpreted as "smiths" by some and by others related to the word "nest". These interpretations are not sure, however. | |||
| ==In the Bible== | |||
| The ] does not say anything clear about their origin. They are often mentioned in connection with other peoples. Some have believed they were a subgroup of the Midianites, but the name Kenites is mentioned even before ]'s son ] was born. | |||
| The Kenites are mentioned as inhabiting the ] of ] as early as the time of ] (] xv.19). At the Exodus the tribe inhabited the vicinity of ] and ]. ], the father-in-law of ] was a Kenite (] i.16); elsewhere, however, Jethro is said to have been "priest of Midian" (] iv. 29), leading many scholars to believe that the terms are intended (at least in parts of the Bible) to be used interchangably, or that the Kenites formed a part of the Midianite tribal grouping. The Kenites journeyed with the ] to Canaan (Judges i. 16); and their encampment, apart from the latter's, was noticed by ] (Num. xxiv.21-22). | |||
| At a later period some of the Kenites separated from their brethren in the south, and went to northern Canaan (Judges iv. 11), where they existed in the time of ]. The kindness which they had shown to Israel in the wilderness was gratefully remembered. "Ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt," said Saul to them (] xv.6); and so not only were they spared by him, but ] allowed them to share in the spoil that he took from the ] (I Sam. xxx.29). | |||
| In ], they are mentioned in connection with the Midianites. ] and his family are sometimes referred to as Kenites and sometimes as Midianites. Some believe there must have been two different groups called by the name Kenites. It may also have been that some Kenites were living together with the Midianites, thus being Midianites only in a geographic sense. The two peoples may also have become mixed by intermarriage. | |||
| Other well-known Kenites were ], the husband of ], and ], the ancestor of the ]. | Other well-known Kenites were ], the husband of ], and ], the ancestor of the ]. | ||
| ==Critical View== | |||
| According to the ], the Kenites were a ] settled on the southern border of Judah, originally more advanced in arts than the Hebrews, and from whom the latter learned much. In the time of David the Kenites were finally incorporated into the ] (I Sam. xxx. 29; comp. ib. xxvii. 10). Their eponymous ancestor may have been ] (Kain), to whose descendants the ] in Gen. iv. attributes the invention of the art of working ] and ], the use of instruments of ], etc. Sayce has inferred (in Hastings, "Dict. Bible," s.v.) that the Kenites were a tribe of ]—a view to which J's statements would lend support. | |||
| Jethro, ] of Midian, and father-in-law of Moses, is said (Judges i. 16) to have been a Kenite. This indicates that the Kenites originally formed part of the Midianite tribe or tribes. The bible may even describe an initiation of Moses and ] by Jethrow into the worship of ] (Ex. xviii. 12 et seq.) Several modern scholars believe, in consequence of this statement, that Yhwh was a Kenite deity, and that from the Kenites through the agency of Moses his worship passed to the Israelites. This view, first proposed by Ghillany, afterward independently by Tiele, and more fully by Stade, has been more completely worked out by Budde; and is accepted by Guthe, Wildeboer, H. P. Smith, and Barton. | |||
| It has been suggested that inasmuch as the Bible describes Jethro assisting Moses in the organization of a ] system, at least some of ancient Israelite jurisprudence may have derived from Kenite sources. Still other scholars have speculated that the ] of Cain in the Book of Genesis may contain oral Kenite traditions. | |||
| ==Fringe theories== | |||
| The ] ] teaches that the Kenites are the descendants of ], and that Cain is the offspring of ] and ]. This is called the "]" doctrine. | The ] ] teaches that the Kenites are the descendants of ], and that Cain is the offspring of ] and ]. This is called the "]" doctrine. | ||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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| *http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=152&letter=R&search=Kenites Rechabites on jewishencyclopedia.com] | |||
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| {{JewishEncyclopedia}} | |||
Revision as of 18:06, 22 August 2005
The Kenites or Kainites (in Hebrew, Kainim) were a tribe of the ancient Levant, possibly a branch of the Midianite nation. According to the Bible, they played an important role in the history of ancient Israel.
In the Bible
The Kenites are mentioned as inhabiting the promised land of Canaan as early as the time of Abraham (Genesis xv.19). At the Exodus the tribe inhabited the vicinity of Mount Sinai and Horeb. Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses was a Kenite (Judges i.16); elsewhere, however, Jethro is said to have been "priest of Midian" ([[Book of Exodus|Exodus iii.1) and a Midianite (Numbers iv. 29), leading many scholars to believe that the terms are intended (at least in parts of the Bible) to be used interchangably, or that the Kenites formed a part of the Midianite tribal grouping. The Kenites journeyed with the Israelites to Canaan (Judges i. 16); and their encampment, apart from the latter's, was noticed by Balaam (Num. xxiv.21-22).
At a later period some of the Kenites separated from their brethren in the south, and went to northern Canaan (Judges iv. 11), where they existed in the time of King Saul. The kindness which they had shown to Israel in the wilderness was gratefully remembered. "Ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt," said Saul to them (I Samuel xv.6); and so not only were they spared by him, but David allowed them to share in the spoil that he took from the Amalekites (I Sam. xxx.29).
Other well-known Kenites were Heber, the husband of Jael, and Rechab, the ancestor of the Rechabites.
Critical View
According to the critical interpretation of the Biblical data, the Kenites were a clan settled on the southern border of Judah, originally more advanced in arts than the Hebrews, and from whom the latter learned much. In the time of David the Kenites were finally incorporated into the tribe of Judah (I Sam. xxx. 29; comp. ib. xxvii. 10). Their eponymous ancestor may have been Cain (Kain), to whose descendants the Jahwist in Gen. iv. attributes the invention of the art of working bronze and iron, the use of instruments of music, etc. Sayce has inferred (in Hastings, "Dict. Bible," s.v.) that the Kenites were a tribe of smiths—a view to which J's statements would lend support.
Jethro, priest of Midian, and father-in-law of Moses, is said (Judges i. 16) to have been a Kenite. This indicates that the Kenites originally formed part of the Midianite tribe or tribes. The bible may even describe an initiation of Moses and Aaron by Jethrow into the worship of YHWH (Ex. xviii. 12 et seq.) Several modern scholars believe, in consequence of this statement, that Yhwh was a Kenite deity, and that from the Kenites through the agency of Moses his worship passed to the Israelites. This view, first proposed by Ghillany, afterward independently by Tiele, and more fully by Stade, has been more completely worked out by Budde; and is accepted by Guthe, Wildeboer, H. P. Smith, and Barton.
It has been suggested that inasmuch as the Bible describes Jethro assisting Moses in the organization of a court system, at least some of ancient Israelite jurisprudence may have derived from Kenite sources. Still other scholars have speculated that the genealogy of Cain in the Book of Genesis may contain oral Kenite traditions.
Fringe theories
The televangelist Arnold Murry teaches that the Kenites are the descendants of Cain, and that Cain is the offspring of Satan and Eve. This is called the "serpent seed" doctrine.
External links
- Judah on jewishencyclopedia.com
- Kenites on jewishencyclopedia.com
- http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=152&letter=R&search=Kenites Rechabites on jewishencyclopedia.com]
- Kenites on Columbia Encyclopedia
- The serpent seed and the Kenites
- What race are the Kennites?
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)