Kenaz
“Hunter, or hunting”
Summary
A name borne by several biblical figures, most notably a grandson of Esau who became a duke of Edom and the ancestor of the Kenizzites, a family later adopted into Israel.
☩Grandson of Esau
The primary Kenaz was the last named son of Eliphaz, Esau's firstborn, making him a grandson of Esau. He became the chieftain or duke of one of the petty Edomite tribes in Arabia Petraea. His descendants did not remain within the limits of Edom but migrated, with some scholars connecting them to the Anezeh, one of the largest and most powerful Bedouin tribes of Arabia, covering territory from the Euphrates to Syria. From Kenaz came the Kenizzites, who were later adopted into Israel and included such notable figures as Caleb and Othniel.
☩Father of Othniel
Another Kenaz was the younger brother of Caleb and father of Othniel, who became Israel's first judge after Joshua. When Caleb offered his daughter Achsah as wife to whoever captured Kiriath-sepher (Debir), Othniel son of Kenaz conquered it and received her as his bride. Because of this relationship, Caleb himself is sometimes called a Kenizzite, though some scholars debate whether this indicates he was actually Kenaz's son rather than brother. Kenaz also had another son named Seraiah.
☩Other Figures Named Kenaz
A later Edomite duke named Kenaz appears in the list of Edomite chieftains as the successor of Pinon and predecessor of Teman. Additionally, a Kenaz is listed as a grandson of Caleb the son of Jephunneh, though the text in Chronicles presents some difficulties of interpretation.
Related Verses11 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Kenaz," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Kenaz; Kenez," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Kenaz," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Kenaz," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).