And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people. (Judges 1:16)
This place, where the Kenites settled, is in the Negeb about 17 mi. (27 km.) south by east of Hebron.
City of palm trees.
Jericho is commonly referred to as the “city of palm trees” (Deut. 34:3; 2 Chron. 28:15). But old Jericho had been destroyed and new Jericho had not yet been built (1 Kings 16:34). It is therefore probable that this “city of palm trees” was another city in the same general vicinity (see on Joshua 6:26). The place was once famous for its palms and gardens. Josephus gives a glowing description of its beauty (Wars iv. 8. 3).
The Kenite.
Or, “the Midianite” (Num. 10:29). From Moses’ time onward the clan was closely allied with Israel without losing its independent and separate existence. Because they were in alliance with Israel and joined with them in the campaign, they were allowed to share in the rewards and settle in the territory of Judah. Later one branch of their clan settled far to the north in the territory of Naphtali (ch. 4:11, 17).