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Are the Kenites the same as the Midianites?
There is some confusion over whether the Kenites and the Midianites are the same peoples or not. It is most likely that the Midianites were a broader geographic and ethnic group, while the Kenites were likely a specific tribe within the larger population of the Midianites. Their name means 'smith’, probably a link to the copper mines in the area of Midian.
It seems that the names are sometimes used interchangeably in the OT. Hobab, the father-in-law of Moses is described as both a Midianite, and as a Kenite. “Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, ‘We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said, ‘I will give it to you’; come with us, and we will treat you well; for the LORD has promised good to Israel.’” (Num 10:29). “The descendants of Hobab the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law, went up with the people of Judah from the city of palms into the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the Negeb near Arad” (Judges 1:16).
The Midianites
The five families of the Midianites were descendants of Midian, the fourth son of Abraham and his second wife, Keturah. “The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah” (Gen 25:2). Abraham sent the sons of Keturah away to the east, away from his son Isaac (Gen 25:6).
The land of Midian
Midian was the area to the south-east of the Gulf of Aqaba. It was rich in copper, so mining was important. This was a desert area, where the Ishmaelites and Medanites also lived. The three names seem to be used almost interchangeably, “When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver” (Gen 37:28). The Midianites are described as Ishmaelites because of their gold earrings (Judges 8:24).
Midianites / Kenites in the OT
The Edomites
One of the descendants of Edom, the king of the Edomites named Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded his father Hadad as king of Edom (Gen 36:35).
Joseph
Joseph’s brothers sold him to Midianite traders who took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar (Ex 37:28, 36).
Reuel / Jethro / Hobab
After Moses fled from Egypt he settled in the land of Midian, where he met Reuel, the priest of Midian who had seven daughters (Ex 2:16-18). Because Moses helped Reuel’s daughters at the well, he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah in marriage (Ex 2:20-21). Reuel was also known as Jethro (Ex 3:1), as well as Hobab (Judges 4:11). Jethro later took back Zipporah and the two sons after Moses sent her away (Ex 18:2).
Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro in the wilderness when God appeared to him in the burning bush (Ex 3:1). Jethro later gave Moses permission to return to Egypt to help his people (Ex 4:18-19).
After the Exodus
Jethro rejoiced at all that Moses had done in bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. He then encouraged Moses to delegate responsibility for executing justice by appointing officers (Ex 18:13-23).
Moses invited Hobab, the son of Reuel, to join the Israelites and teach them how to camp in the wilderness, but he wanted to return to his kindred (Num 10:29-32). His descendants travelled with the Israelites from the city of palms (Jericho) into the wilderness of Judah, where they settled with the Amalekites (Judges 1:16).
Balaam
King Balak of the Moabites together with the elders of Midian sent a message to Balaam, calling him to curse the Israelites so he can defeat them (Num 22:1-7). In his oracle against the Kenites, Balaam predicted that Asshur will take them captive (Num 24:21-22). Asshur could mean the Assyrians or the Amorites. God then told Moses to harass the Midianites and defeat them, because they tricked the Israelites with the Baal of Peor (Num 25:3, 16-18). Moses conscripted and army from each tribe of the Israelites and attacked Midian, killing the five kings of Midian, as well as Balaam (Num 31:1-8).
Deborah and Barak
During the time of Deborah, the Israelites were oppressed by King Jabin of Canaan reigning from Hazor. His army commander was Sisera, who was opposed in battle by Barak, who was Deborah’s army comander. Sisera fled and hid in the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. Sisera was murdered by Jael, who drove a tent peg into his head (Judges 4:11, 5:24).
This deliverance is remembered by Asaph in the Psalms, “Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the Wadi Kishon” (Ps 83:9).
Gideon
The Midianites oppressed Israel (Judges 6:1), so God raised up Gideon as their deliverer, who subdued the Midianites (Judges 6:11 - 8:28). This is one of the earliest references to camels being used in warfare (Judge 6:5).
Saul
Saul spared the Kenites during his campaign against the Amalekites, warning them to depart. He spared them because they showed kindness to Israel when they came up out of Egypt (1 Sam 15:4-6).
David
David made Achish of the Philistines that he had raided the Kenites in the Negeb (1 Sam 27:10) and later sent them spoil from the Amalekites (1 Sam 30:29).
The Rechabites
The Rechabites who were commended by Jeremiah for their faithfulness (Jer 35) and helped Nehemiah rebuild the walls (Neh 3:14) were descendants of the Kenites (1 Chr 2:55).
‘The Kenite Hypothesis’
Some liberal scholars have suggested that Moses learned ‘Yahweh’ as the holy name of God from the Jethro the Kenite / Midianite, and that Jethro showed Moses how to offer sacrifices to Go (Ex 18:12). However, the name ‘Yahweh’ was known at the time of the earliest of the patriarchs (Gen 4:1,26).
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