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The '''Kenites''' or '''Kainites''' (in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], '''''Kainim'''''), the children of [[Cain]], were a tribe of the ancient [[Levant]], possibly ancestors of the [[Midianite]] nation. According to the [[Tanakh|Bible]], they played an important role in the history of ancient [[Israel]]. According to Petrine Sabis, Keturah was a Kenite.

The '''Kenites''' or '''Kainites''' (in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], '''''Kainim'''''), the children of [[Cain]], were a tribe of the ancient [[Levant]], possibly ancestors of the [[Midianite]] nation. According to the [[Tanakh|Bible]], they played an important role in the history of ancient [[Israel]]. According to Petrine Sabis, Keturah was a Kenite.

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 [[Saul the King|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 [[Books of Samuel|I Samuel]] xv.6.); and so not only were they spared by him, but [[King David|David]] allowed them to share in the spoil that he took from the [[Amalekites]].(I Sam. xxx.29.)

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 [[Saul the King|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 [[Books of Samuel|I Samuel]] xv.6.); and so not only were they spared by him, but [[King David|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]].[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03776b.htm]|

Other well-known Kenites were [[Heber]], the husband of [[Jael]], and [[Rechab]], the ancestor of the [[Rechabites]].[https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03776b.htm]|

==Critical view==

==Critical view==

According to the [[Biblical studies|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 Samuel]] xxx. 29; ''comp. ib.'' xxvii. 10.) Their eponymous ancestor may have been [[Cain]] (Kain), to whose descendants the [[Jahwist]] in Genesis iv. attributes the invention of the art of working [[bronze]] and [[iron]], the use of instruments of [[music]], etc. Sayce has inferred in [[James Hastings]], ''Dictionary of the Bible'', s.v. that the Kenites were a tribe of [[Smith (metalwork)|smiths]]—a view to which [[Jahwist]]'s statements would lend support.

According to the [[Biblical studies|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 Samuel]] xxx. 29; ''comp. ib.'' xxvii. 10.) Their eponymous ancestor may have been [[Cain]] (Kain), to whose descendants the [[Jahwist]] in Genesis iv. attributes the invention of the art of working [[bronze]] and [[iron]], the use of instruments of [[music]], etc. Sayce has inferred in [[James Hastings]], ''Dictionary of the Bible'', s.v. that the Kenites were a tribe of [[Smith (metalwork)|smiths]]—a view to which [[Jahwist]]'s statements would lend support.

[[Jethro]], [[priest]] of Midian, and father-in-law of Moses, is said<ref>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 Jethro into the worship of [[YHWH]], (Ex. xviii. 12 ''et seq''.) although this seems contrary to very many other Biblical passages.(''e.g. [[Exodus]] xviii. 8.) 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 [[F. W. Ghillany]], afterward independently by [[Cornelis Petrus Tiele]], and more fully by [[Stade]], has been more completely worked out by [[Karl Budde]]; and is accepted by [[H. Guthe]], [[Gerrit Wildeboer]], [[H. P. Smith]], and G. A. Barton<ref>George Aaron Barton (1859 - 1942), US Bible scholar and professor of Semitic languages. [http://www.archives.upenn.edu/faids/upt/upt50/bartonga.html online]. This view is challenged by other Bible scholars who argue: "We nowhere hear that Moses took over the Yahweh-worship from this tribe. On the contrary, Jethro begins only at this time (Exodus 18:11) to worship Yahweh, the God of Moses, and the common sacrificial meal, according to 18:12, did not take place in the presence of Yahweh, but, accommodating it to the guest, in the presence of Elohim" (from the [[International Standard Bible Dictionary]].)

[[Jethro]], [[priest]] of Midian, and father-in-law of Moses, is said<ref>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 Jethro into the worship of [[YHWH]], (Ex. xviii. 12 ''et seq''.) although this seems contrary to very many other Biblical passages.(''e.g. [[Exodus]] xviii. 8.) 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 [[F. W. Ghillany]], afterward independently by [[Cornelis Petrus Tiele]], and more fully by [[Stade]], has been more completely worked out by [[Karl Budde]]; and is accepted by [[H. Guthe]], [[Gerrit Wildeboer]], [[H. P. Smith]], and G. A. Barton<ref>George Aaron Barton (1859 - 1942), US Bible scholar and professor of Semitic languages. [https://www.archives.upenn.edu/faids/upt/upt50/bartonga.html online]. This view is challenged by other Bible scholars who argue: "We nowhere hear that Moses took over the Yahweh-worship from this tribe. On the contrary, Jethro begins only at this time (Exodus 18:11) to worship Yahweh, the God of Moses, and the common sacrificial meal, according to 18:12, did not take place in the presence of Yahweh, but, accommodating it to the guest, in the presence of Elohim" (from the [[International Standard Bible Dictionary]].)

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.

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.

==Resources==

==Resources==

*[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=176&letter=K&search=Kenites Hirsch, Emil G.,  Bernhard Pick and George A. Barton. "Kenites."] ''[[Jewish Encyclopedia]].'' Funk and Wagnalls, 1901-1906; which cites to the following bibliography:

*[https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=176&letter=K&search=Kenites Hirsch, Emil G.,  Bernhard Pick and George A. Barton. "Kenites."] ''[[Jewish Encyclopedia]].'' Funk and Wagnalls, 1901-1906; which cites to the following bibliography:

:*Stade, ''Geschichte des Volkes Israel,'' i. 126 et seq., Berlin, 1889;

:*Stade, ''Geschichte des Volkes Israel,'' i. 126 et seq., Berlin, 1889;

:*Moore, "Judges", in ''International Critical Commentary,'' pp. 51-55, New York, 1895;

:*Moore, "Judges", in ''International Critical Commentary,'' pp. 51-55, New York, 1895;

==External links==

==External links==

*[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=176&letter=K&search=Kenites Kenites on jewishencyclopedia.com]

*[https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=176&letter=K&search=Kenites Kenites on jewishencyclopedia.com]

*http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=152&letter=R&search=Kenites Rechabites on jewishencyclopedia.com]

*https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=152&letter=R&search=Kenites Rechabites on jewishencyclopedia.com]

*[http://www.bartleby.com/65/ke/Kenites.html Kenites on Columbia Encyclopedia]

*[https://www.bartleby.com/65/ke/Kenites.html Kenites on Columbia Encyclopedia]

*[http://www.carm.org/chapel/serpent_seed.htm The serpent seed and the Kenites]

*[https://www.carm.org/chapel/serpent_seed.htm The serpent seed and the Kenites]

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