Upon this blank period before the foundation of Judaism (§§ 21, 23)
much light is also thrown by another body of evidence. It has long
been recognized that 1 Chron. ii. and iv. represent a Judah composed
mainly of groups which had moved up from the south (Hebron) to the
vicinity of Jerusalem. It includes Caleb and Jerahmeel, Kenite or
Rechabite families, scribes, &c., and these, as "sons" of Hezron,
claim some relationship with Gilead. The names point generally to an
affinity with south Palestine and north Arabia (Edom, Midian, &c.; see
especially the lists in Gen. xxxvi.), and suggest that certain members
of a closely related collection of groups had separated from the main
body and were ultimately enrolled as Israelites. It is also recognized
by many scholars that in the present account of the exodus there are
indications of the original prominence of traditions of Kadesh, and
also of a journey northwards in which Caleb, Kenites and others took
part (§ 5). On these and on other grounds besides, it has long been
felt that south Palestine, with its north Arabian connexions, is of
real importance in biblical research, and for many years efforts have
been made to determine the true significance of the evidence. The
usual tendency has been to regard it in the light of the criticism of
early Israelite history, which demands some reconstruction (§ 8), and
to discern distinct tribal movements previous to the union of Judah
and Israel under David. On the other hand, the elaborate theory of T.
K. Cheyne involves the view that a history dealing with the south
actually underlies our sources and can be recovered by emendation of
the text. Against the former is the fact that although certain groups
are ultimately found in Judah (Judg. i.), the evidence for the
movement--a conquest north of Kadesh, almost at the gate of the
promised land--explicitly mentions Israel; and against the latter the
evidence again shows that this representation has been deliberately
subordinated to the entrance of Israel from beyond the Jordan.[44] In
either case the history of separate sections of people may have been
extended to Israel as a whole, but there is no evidence for any
adequate reconstruction. Yet the presence of distinct representations
of the history may be recognized, and since the Judaean compilers of
the Old Testament have incorporated non-Judaean sources (e.g. the
history of the northern monarchy), it is obvious that, apart from
indigenous Judaean tradition, the southern groups which were
ultimately enrolled in Judah would possess their own stock of oral and
written lore. Hence it is noteworthy that the late editor of Judges
has given the first place to Othniel, a Kenizzite, and therefore of
Edomite affinity, though subsequently reckoned as a Judaean (Judg i.
13, iii. 9; cf. Gen. xxxvi. 11; 1 Chron. iv. 13). Of Kenite interest
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