Judges 1:16

“And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father in law, etc.] The posterity of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses; for though Jethro returned to his own country, after he had paid a visit to Moses in the wilderness, yet Hobab his son, at the persuasion of Moses, travelled with him and Israel through the wilderness, and went with them into Canaan, at least some of his descendants, and settled there, some in one part of the land, and some in another, of whom we read in several places of Scripture; they continued to the days of Jeremiah, and then went by the name of Rechabites, so called from Rechab, a descendant of Jethro: these went up out of the city of palm trees; from the city of Jericho, as…”

“the children of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah--called "the Kenite," as probably descended from the people of that name (Num 24:21-22). If he might not himself, his posterity did accept the invitation of Moses (Num 10:32) to accompany the Israelites to Canaan. Their first encampment was in the "city of palm trees"--not Jericho, of course, which was utterly destroyed, but the surrounding district, perhaps En-gedi, in early times called Hazezon-tamar (Gen 14:7), from the palm-grove which sheltered it. Thence they removed for some unknown cause, and associating themselves with Judah, joined in an expedition against Arad, in the…”

“The children of the Kenite - See Numbers 24:21 note. The city of palm trees - Jericho (see the marginal reference). The rabbinical story is that Jericho, with 500 cubits square of land, was given to Hobab. The use of the phrase “city of palm trees” for “Jericho,” is perhaps an indication of the influence of Joshua’s curse Joshua 6:26. Tbe very name of Jericho was blotted out. There are no palm trees at Jericho now, but Josephus mentions them repeatedly, as well as the balsam trees. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Moses's father - in - law - That is, of Jethro, so called from the people whom he descended, Num 24:21-22. And, whatsoever he did, it is evident, that his posterity came into Canaan with the Israelites, and were there seated with them, see Jdg 4:11, Jdg 4:17, Jdg 5:24; Sa1 15:6; 1Ch. 2:1-55. City of palm - trees - That is, from Jericho, so called, Deu 34:3, not the city which was destroyed, but the territory belonging to it, where it seems they were seated, in a most pleasant, and fruitful, and safe place, according to the promise made by Moses to their father, Num 10:29-32, and whence they might remove, either to avoid the neighboring Canaanites; or out of love to the children of Judah.…”

“the Kenite: Jdg 4:11, Jdg 4:17; Num 10:29-32, Num 24:21, Num 24:22; Sa1 15:6; Ch1 2:15; Jer 35:2 Moses': Exo 3:1, Exo 4:18, Exo 18:1, Exo 18:7, Exo 18:12, Exo 18:14-17, Exo 18:27; Num 10:29 city of palm: Jdg 3:13; Deu 34:3; Ch2 28:16 which: Num 21:1; Jos 12:14 they went: Num 10:29-32; Sa1 15:6 Judges 1:17”

“The notice respecting the Kenites, that they went up out of the palm-city with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah in the south of Arad, and dwelt there with the Judaeans, is introduced here into the account of the wars of the tribe of Judah, because this migration of the Kenites belonged to the time between the conquest of Debir ( Jdg 1:12.) and Zephath ( Jdg 1:17); and the notice itself was of importance, as forming the intermediate link between Num 10:29., and the later allusions to the Kenites in Jdg 4:11; Jdg 5:24; Sa1 15:6; Sa1 27:10; Sa1 30:29. "The children of the Kenite," i.e., the descendants of Hobab, the brother-in-law of Moses (compare Jdg 4:11, where the name is…”