The Midianite-Kenite Hypothesis Revisited and the Origins of Judah

2008/11/13 by Joseph Blenkinsopp · 2 citations
Arts and Humanities · #Ancient Egypt and Archaeology #Archaeology and Historical Studies #Biblical Studies and Interpretation

paper · doi:10.1177/0309089208099253

openalex publication_date 2008/11/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/21

Abstract

The Kenite, or Midianite-Kenite, hypothesis about the origins of the cult of Yahweh first came into prominence in the late nineteenth century. It rests on four bases: an interpretation of the biblical texts dealing with the Midianite connections of Moses, allusions in ancient poetic compositions to the original residence of Yahweh, Egyptian topographical texts from the fourteenth to the twelfth century, and Cain as the eponymous ancestor of the Kenites. This article discusses the implications of the hypothesis for the ethnic origins of Judah.

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• A Tale of Two Sisters: The Image of Eve in Early Rabbinic Literature and Its Influence on the Portrayal of Lilith in the Alphabet of Ben Sira
• Kenites [wikipedia]

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