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 1:16KJV
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Judges 1:16 (KJV)

What does Judges 1:16 mean?

Judges 1:16 describes how the descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, known as the Kenites, left the “city of palm trees” and traveled with the tribe of Judah into the wilderness in the southern region near Arad, where they settled among the local people. This verse shows a group closely connected to Moses joining Israel’s journey and settling in the Promised Land.

The verse is set during the early period when the Israelites were taking possession of Canaan after Joshua’s death. The “city of palm trees” refers to Jericho, and the Kenites were a non-Israelite clan related to Moses by marriage. The passage highlights how the Kenites chose to align themselves with Judah, showing their integration into Israel’s community while still being identified as a distinct group.

The Hebrew behind Judges 1:16

  • קֵינִי (qēynî, “Kenite”): This word identifies the group as descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, marking them as outsiders by blood but insiders by relationship and choice. Their presence shows the inclusion of non-Israelites in Israel’s story.
  • עִיר (ʿîr, “city”) and תָּמָר (tāmār, “palm tree”): These words together point to Jericho, often called the “city of palm trees.” This detail grounds the story in a real location and connects it to earlier events in Israel’s history.
  • יָשַׁב (yāshav, “dwelt”): This word means to settle or live among, emphasizing that the Kenites made their home alongside the people of Judah, not just passing through.

Why Judges 1:16 matters

  • This verse clarifies that not all who joined Israel were ethnic Israelites; some, like the Kenites, became part of the community through relationship and shared journey.
  • The mention of Moses’ father-in-law’s descendants shows a lasting connection between Moses’ family and the people of Israel, even after Moses’ death.
  • The verse helps explain later references to the Kenites in the Bible, showing their early integration and peaceful coexistence with Israel.

Where else these words appear

“trees” Hebrew H5899 · used in 4 verses

  • Deuteronomy 34:3 And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.
  • Judges 3:13 And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
  • 2 Chronicles 28:15 And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.

“Arad” Hebrew H6166 · used in 5 verses

  • Numbers 21:1 And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners.
  • Numbers 33:40 And king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.
  • Joshua 12:14 The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;

“Kenite” Hebrew H7017 · used in 10 verses

  • Genesis 15:19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,
  • Judges 4:17 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
  • 1 Samuel 27:10 And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.

“trees” Hebrew H8558 · used in 12 verses

  • Exodus 15:27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
  • Deuteronomy 34:3 And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.
  • Psalms 92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.