Definition: Now Heber the Kenite, [which was] of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which [is] by Kedesh.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse together. It’s a little bit complex, but we can understand it as follows: Basically, this verse tells us about a man named Heber who left his people and settled down in a specific area. Here's a simpler explanation of what each part means: “Now Heber the Kenite…” – This refers to a man named Heber, who was a member of a group called the Kenites. Kenites were a tribe that lived in the land of northern Israel. “[which was] of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses.” - This is an important piece of information. It tells us that Heber’s family line goes back to Hobab, who was a man in law to Moses. This connects him to a significant figure in Israel's history – Moses! “had severed himself from the Kenites…” - This means Heber left his tribe and moved away from them. “…and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which [is] by Kedesh.” – This is where it gets a little more specific. “Zaanaim” is a place on the land. “Kedesh” is a location marked on a map. Heber settled down in this area, and he built his tent there. The plain of Zaanaim is located by Kedesh. So, what’s the big takeaway? This verse describes a man who was exiled from his people – likely because of some conflict or disagreement with them. He chose to live in a remote area, perhaps for a while, and eventually settled down near a specific place called Kedesh. In short, it's a story about a man leaving his community and finding a new home. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss the historical context of this passage? Talk about what this might mean in terms of biblical storytelling?