1)

The three nations mentioned in this Pasuk, the Keini, Kenizi and Kadmoni, are not usually listed among the nations of Kena'an (that HaSh-m would later promise to deliver into the hands of Bnei Yisrael; see Devarim 7:1). If so, who were they?

1.

Rashi: The Keini, Kenizi and Kadmoni 1 are Edom, Amon and Mo'av. They will be given to Yisrael in time to come.


1

Who are the Keini? Another verse identifies them as, "v'Chever ha'Keini... mi'Benei Chovav Chosen Moshe" (Shoftim 4:11)! Rashi and most Meforshim on Bamidbar 24:21 say that the Keini mentioned there are likewise from Yisro. Perhaps they hold like Radak here, that Keini here are called so based on the city they lived in. Chizkuni however says that also there, it refers to Amon. He must distinguish Chever ha'Keini from Keini. Alternatively, they are descendants of Yisro who intermarried with Amoni converts. We rule that converts may marry even Pesulei Kahal, e.g. male Amoni converts. (PF)

2)

Seeing as Hashem initially promised him the land of the seven nations of Cana?an, why, following the battle aginst the four kings, did he add the lands of the Keini, Kenizi and Kadmoni?

1.

Oznayim la?Torah (in 14:5): Because, having rescued Lot from the four kings, and knowing that S?dom and its four sister towns were destined to be destroyed, it was necessary to find territory to settle Lot, to prevent from re-joining Avraham against his (Avraham?s) will. So Hashem added three lands on to the seven Cana?ani nations, 1 which his nephew would inherit temporarily until the time comes for his (Avraham?s) descencents to claim it.


1

And by the same token, He added a piece of land (Har?ram Se?ir) which Avraham acquired on behalf of his brother Eisav, to prevent him from settling in Avraham?s territory sand harrassing him. See Oznayim la?Torah, who elaborates in detail.

3)

Avraham acquired the seven nations of Cana?an by walking the length and breadth of the land. How did he acquire the Keini, the Kenizi and the Kadmoni?

1.

Oznayim la?Torah (in 14:5); He acquired it by conquest ? by defeating the four kings who, in turn, had captured the lands from the original owners.

4)

Why do the ten Cana?ani nations not tally with the list of Cana?ani nations listed in Bereishis 10:15?

1.

Peninim mi?Shulchan ha?G?ra: They are actually the same nations, only the Torah lists some of them with different names: ?Keini, Kenizi and Kadmoni? 1 here are synonymous with ?Arvadi, and Chamasi? there; and P?rizi and Refa?im? here are synonymous with Arki and Chivi? there.


1

These three nations were given temporarily to Eisav, Amon and Mo?av ? Refer to 15:19:2:1 ? and withheld from Yisrael following the sin of the golden Calf. See P?ninim mi?Shulchan ha?G?ra for more details.

5)

With reference to the previous question, why does the Torah here omit ?Tzidon and Sini? which are listed in No?ach?

1.

Peninim mi?Shulchan ha?G?ra: Because they were not part of the land of the seven nations that Hashem gave to Yisrael ? Tzidon was north of Eretz Yisrael, and Sinai, south. 1


1

Peninim mi?Shulchan ha?G?ra: Nevertheless, in the time of Mashi?ach, they will become part of Eretz Yisrael ? together with the Keini, Kenizi and Kadmoni

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

6)

Rashi writes: "Edom, Moav and Amon are the [nations referred to in the Pasuk as] Keini, Kenizi and Kadmoni." How do we know this?

1.

Gur Aryeh: As Rashi writes, we find in the Navi that we will rule over these three nations in the future (Yeshayahu 11:14). We also learn from Devarim 2 that these lands are adjacent to Eretz Yisrael.

7)

Rashi writes: "Ten nations are listed here, and HaSh-m gave us [the land of] only seven [when we left Egypt." But perhaps "Kena'ani" is a general name that includes the other nations (see Rashi to Shemos 13:5), and in fact we received all ten?

1.

Gur Aryeh: The verse (Devarim 7:1) emphasizes that we inherited "seven nations, numerous and stronger than you," even though it lists them explicitly. This emphasizes that we received only seven of the ten nations promised to Avraham (and the Keini, Kenizi and Kadmoni will be given to us in the future).

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