Who are the Kenites?

The races of the sixth day creation were not destroyed by the flood and neither were the Kenites or, seedline of Cain. They survived the great deluge as it is made evident in Genesis 15:19 where they are first mentioned among other tribes. Again, the Kenites were seen sojourning with Israel as they journeyed to Canaan in Numbers 24 (specifically verses 21 and 22). Another affirmation can be found in I Samuel 15:6.

Additionally, in I Chronicles 2:55 we find that the Kenites were alive and well as scribes by trade. They're mentioned after the genealogy of true Judah. I could continue but see little point in doing so. It is indisputable that they survived the flood because the Word declares it. Now in regards to a "spiritual Kenite", that's an interesting way to put it. I've contemplated the matter for some time now.

Here's how I presently see it, Kenites are a race of people. It is a bloodline, a lineage, a pedigree. In order to retain a genealogy of utmost purity (as with any race), the reintroduction of Kenite DNA would have to be perpetual. Without it, it could be phased out in say, six or seven generations of interbreeding. It is commonly thought that they have intermarried with several other peoples/races. So the percentage of true Kenites may not be all that large (though this is undeterminable).

Which leads to the second part of my thought, what of the ungodly, the unrighteous, the unjust, those whom are defiantly wicked and void of the love and the truth of God? Are all these Kenites? Again, this is difficult if not impossible to determine. My opinion is no, they are not all Kenites. To attribute all the evil of man's doings in the world today to one race or group of people just doesn't seem realistic to me. In fact, it almost reminds me of anti-Semitism in a way.

God knows the soul he places in each and every person who has passed through the flesh, regardless of their race (Jeremiah 1:5, Romans 9:10-13). Complete with free will, one may choose to be a child of Satan and the ways of this world, or one of God through our Lord Jesus as you've referenced from John 3, specifically verses 8-10. So to be more accurate in the spiritual sense, they would be a spiritual child of the devil, not a "spiritual Kenite". Even a Kenite can accept Christ and attain salvation, thus becoming a spiritual child of God. Whomsoever will (John 3:15-17).

Some of my statements are only opinions. If I'm found to be in error regarding this or that, I apologize in advance. Hope this helps some otherwise.

God bless,
Will
1 Chronicles, Chapter 2
055: And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.

Why are they three different groups of people that make up the kenites in this verse?

I will attempt to answer your question to the best of my ability. Just as Jacob ("Israel" whom was a descendent of Seth) sired patriarchs, apparently so did one of Cain's descendents. As Jacob's progeny included Reuben (or, the Reubenites), Simeon (or, the Simeonites) and Levi (or, the Levites), so also did one or more of Cain's descendents bear sons by the name of Tira (or, the Tirathites), Shimea (or, the Shimeathites), and Suchah (or, the Suchathites).

Though there is little mentioned about these three, what I have found is somewhat interesting. They are described to be three different classes of religious functionaries, that being singers, scribes and recorders. The Tirathites or (singers) means "men of the gate" or "gate keepers". The Shimeathites or (those repeating in song what they have heard) means "report". The Suchathites or (dwellers in tents) means "bushmen". They are all identified as a family of scribes whom dwelt at Jabez.

Bullinger indicates that these were the posterity of Jethro and Hobab according to Judges 1:16 and I Samuel 15:6; 27:10. Now, Hobab was Moses' brother in law while Jethro was Moses' father in law. In Judges 1:16, Jethro is identified as a Kenite. However, in Exodus 2:16 Jethro is given the title "the priest of Midian" and is named in verse 18 "Reuel". This one gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to wife and is in chapter 3, verse 1 identified as "Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian".

Further persuasion may be found in Numbers 10:29 where again, Jethro or "Raguel" also called "Reuel" is found to be Moses' father in law but this time is identified as a Midianite, not a Kenite. Midian was the fourth son of Abraham's second wife Keturah. Now, Keturah's specific race is never disclosed in scripture so it can only be assumed that she was fully Adamic. Therefore, Midian is assumed to be Adamic. Jethro and Hobab's title as Kenites may be ascribed by reason of residence or geographical location, "living in the land of the Kenites".

However, in the event they actually were somehow of Kenite origin, keep in mind that this supposed interbreeding through Moses wouldn't have affected the bloodline through which Christ would come. Finally, as we saw of those who dwelt with Judah in I Chronicles 2:55: "And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab." There is further evidence of their persistent affliction.

In Amos 6:14, the LORD, YHVH, Father God makes His proclamation unto Israel: "But, "behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness." Such seems to be the case of their perpetual sojourning with us even to this day. They apparently have a role to play in God's plan somehow or another. What that is specifically, I cannot surmise. For now I can only speculate and hope to one day know.

Hope this has helped you in some small way, it certainly has me.

YBIC,
Will