Numbers 24:22

Kenite, Heb. Kain, i.e. the Kenite; so called, either by a transposition of letters, which is very usual in the Hebrew tongue; or from the name of some eminent place where they lived, or person from whom they were descended, though now the memory of them be utterly lost, as it hath fared with innumerable other places and persons famous in their generations mentioned in ancient heathen writers. Shall be wasted, i.e. shall be by degrees diminished and wasted by the incursions of divers enemies, till at last the Assyrian comes to complete the work, and carries them into captivity. For the Kenites lived partly among the ten tribes, Joshua 19:33, compared with Judges 4:11, and partly with the two tribes, Judges 1:16, Judges 4:16,17, and were carried captive with them, part by Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria, 2 Kings 17:6, and part by Nebuchadnezzar, who also is called an Assyrian, Ezra 6:22 Isaiah 52:4. The words may be rendered thus, shall be wasted. How long ? to wit, shall they be thus wasted? (these particles being oft used abruptly and pathetically in the same manner, Psalms 6:3, Psalms 90:13 Isaiah 6:11) till Asshur comes, Asshur shall carry thee away captive.