Curiously, there are several references to Kenizzites; but, they may reference 2 sets of people both having family lineage to someone named Kenaz. Kenizzites were listed among the Cananite peoples in Genesis 15. Jephunneh, father of Caleb who surveilled Canaan for Moses, was stated as a Kenizzite, although he was stated in 1 Chronicles 4 as a Semite in the line of Judah.
The Edomite Kenizzites were first mentioned in Genesis 15:12-18.
12. As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.
13. Then the LORD said to him, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
14. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions.
15. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age.
16. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure."
17. When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.
18. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates--
19. the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,
20. Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,
21. Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites."
Genesis 36:11 calls Kenaz a grandson of Esau through Eliphaz. Kenaz was stated as a "chief of Edom" in verses 40-43. This agrees with the Genesis 15 Kenizzite reference in the region of the Canaanites.
The second line of Kenizzites seem to come from the line of Judah according to 1 Chronicles 4.
1. The descendants of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur and Shobal.
2. Reaiah son of Shobal was the father of Jahath, and Jahath the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites.
3. These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma and Idbash. Their sister was named Hazzelelponi.
4. Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These were the descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah and father of Bethlehem.
5. Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
6. Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni and Haahashtari. These were the descendants of Naarah.
7. The sons of Helah: Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan,
8. and Koz, who was the father of Anub and Hazzobebah and of the clans of Aharhel son of Harum.
9. Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain."
10. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.
11. Kelub, Shuhah's brother, was the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.
12. Eshton was the father of Beth Rapha, Paseah and Tehinnah the father of Ir Nahash. These were the men of Recah.
13. The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai.
14. Meonothai was the father of Ophrah. Seraiah was the father of Joab, the father of Ge Harashim. It was called this because its people were craftsmen.
15. The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah and Naam. The son of Elah: Kenaz.
It appears that Caleb's grandson, Kenaz, gave birth to the judge Othniel. This apparently yielded the second line of Kenizzites. Othniel, son of Kenaz, had mentions in Joshua 15:17 then again in Judges 1:13-15 and 3:9-11.
If, instead of being named after a town rather than for prominent ancestors, their might have been a town in Canaanite land which could have been destroyed. In that case, it would be possible that both sets of people could have linked backgrounds to the town. However, there is no mention of any such town.
