Summary

The descendants of Kenaz were clans who occupied the southern areas and who, with time, were absorbed into the tribe of Judah. Kenaz was the younger brother of Caleb and the father of Othniel (Joshua 15:17; Judges 1:13; Judges 3:9, Judges 3:11). Caleb, son of Jephunneh, is also identified as a Kenizzite (Numbers 32:12; Joshua 14:6, Joshua 14:14). He was one of the twelve spies sent to spy out the land before the invasion was to take place. Along with Joshua, he brought a favourable report about the Promised Land and was therefore commended by God; of Caleb the Lord said, But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it (Numbers 14:24). He was given the city of Hebron in the conquest (Joshua 14:14; Joshua 15:13; Joshua 21:12).¹

Othniel son of Kenaz and Caleb son of Jephunneh are named as brothers (more likely half-brothers or simply relatives). Othniel took up Caleb’s challenge to capture the city of Debir (formerly Kiriath-sepher) for which he received Caleb’s daughter Acsah in marriage (Joshua 15:16–17).  Othniel later became one of the judges of Israel who delivered the Israelites from the king of Aram (Judges 3:9–11). The Chronicler includes the families of Caleb and Othniel because they were responsible for expanding the borders of Israel during the era of the judges. Their example was meant to encourage postexilic Judah by reminding the people that God was still able to enlarge the borders of diminished Judah through the efforts of faithful people.²

The name Meonothai is restored to the genealogy (1 Chronicles 4:13) on the grounds of its appearance in both the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate but absent from the Hebrew text due to haplography (the accidental omission of a repeated letter or letters in writing; for example, philogy for philology). Some commentators connect this reference to craftsmen with the Kenites, perhaps indicating this people group had been displaced to the north. Note that Kenaz is named both at the beginning and end of this section (1 Chronicles 4:13, 1 Chronicles 4:15), thus forming a bracket on either end.

Only the name of Ziph is known among the sons of Jehallelel (1 Chronicles 4:16), a city southeast of Hebron, a city where David fled to in order to hide from Saul (1 Samuel 23:14–16; 1 Samuel 26:2; 1 Samuel 26:2). It could be that the Chronicler includes these former Hebrew cities south of the postexilic border of Judah in the hope of the restoration of this land to the tribe of Judah.³