What do you know about the Kenites?
Question:
I was wondering about the teaching of the Kenites and the six-day man.
Answer:
Prior to your query, I hadn't heard that there were teachings attributed to the Kenites. But a little bit of Internet searching told me a bit about this philosophy.
First, let's establish what the Bible says about the Kenites. The Kenites were one of several nations which occupied the land of Canaan prior to Israel's conquering of the territory (Genesis 15:18-21). It appears that this nation was also known as Midian or it could be a sub-family within the Midianite clans. Exodus 3:1 mentions that Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, was a priest of Midian, but Judges 1:16 states that he was a Kenite. The Kenites territory was on the southern edge of Canaan (I Samuel 27:10).
The Kenites were also associated with the Amalekites. Before destroying the Amalekites, we read, "Then Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, depart, get down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt." So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites" (I Samuel 15:6). This is as Balaam had prophesied, "Then he looked on Amalek, and he took up his oracle and said: "Amalek was first among the nations, But shall be last until he perishes." Then he looked on the Kenites, and he took up his oracle and said: "Firm is your dwelling place, And your nest is set in the rock; Nevertheless Kain shall be burned. How long until Asshur carries you away captive?"" (Numbers 24:20-22). Kain is likely a reference to the founding forefather from whom the Kenite name is derived. Note that this is not the Cain mentioned in Genesis 4. Cain's descendants were wiped out by the flood. Only Noah and his family survived the flood and they were descendants of Seth, Cain's brother.
At least some of the Kenites joined themselves to the Israelites. "Now Heber the Kenite, of the children of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, had separated himself from the Kenites and pitched his tent near the terebinth tree at Zaanaim, which is beside Kedesh" (Judges 4:11, see also I Chronicles 2:55).
From this basis, people have developed elaborate speculations from what the Scriptures do not state. The problem is that since we have no information, speculating is a futile effort.
There is no mention of a "six-day man" in the Scriptures and I found nothing to define the term in secular writings, so I can't comment.
