[1] : Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

kenites
   smiths, the name of a tribe inhabiting the desert lying between
   southern palestine and the mountains of sinai. jethro was of
   this tribe judg. 1:16. he is called a "midianite" num.
   10:29, and hence it is concluded that the midianites and the
   kenites were the same tribe. they were wandering smiths, "the
   gipsies and travelling tinkers of the old oriental world. they
   formed an important guild in an age when the art of metallurgy
   was confined to a few" sayce's races, etc.. they showed
   kindness to israel in their journey through the wilderness. they
   accompanied them in their march as far as jericho judg. 1:16,
   and then returned to their old haunts among the amalekites, in
   the desert to the south of judah. they sustained afterwards
   friendly relations with the israelites when settled in canaan
   judg. 4:11, 17-21; 1 sam. 27:10; 30:29. the rechabites
   belonged to this tribe 1 chr. 2:55 and in the days of jeremiah
   35:7-10 are referred to as following their nomad habits. saul
   bade them depart from the amalekites 1 sam. 15:6 when, in
   obedience to the divine commission, he was about to "smite
   amalek." and his reason is, "for ye showed kindness to all the
   children of israel when they came up out of egypt." thus "god is
   not unrighteous to forget the kindnesses shown to his people;
   but they shall be remembered another day, at the farthest in the
   great day, and recompensed in the resurrection of the just" m.
   henry's commentary. they are mentioned for the last time in
   scripture in 1 sam. 27:10; comp. 30:20.
   

[2] : Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's)

kenites, possession; purchase; lamentation

Kenites >> K Words
Kenites, definition of term: Kenites
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