RECHABITES

- Descended from Hemath 1Ch 2:55 - The head of, assisted Jehu in his conspiracy against the house of Ahab 2Ki 10:15-17 - Prohibited by Jonadab from forming settlements or drinking wine Jer 35:6-8 - Obedience of, a sign to Israel Jer 35:12-17 - Perpetuity to, promised Jer 35:18,19

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Scripture acquaints us, Jer 35:2-11, that Jonadab son of Rechab, in the time of Jehu king of Israel; laid an injunction on his posterity not to drink wine, not to build houses, not to plant vineyards, to have no lands, and to dwell in tents all their lives. This they continued to observe for above three hundred years; but in the last year of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar coming to besiege Jerusalem, the Rechabites were forced to take refuge in the city, though still lodging in tents. During this siege, Jeremiah received orders from the Lord to invite them into the temple, and to offer them wine to drink. They refused to partake of it; and their fidelity to their father’s injunction was a severe reproof to the Jews; and the divine promise concerning the perpetuity of the family, Jer 35:19, was undoubtedly fulfilled, though it may now be impossible to distinguish temm, as some profess to do, among the tribes of Central Arabia.

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Rechabites. Rechabites
The descendants of Rechab through Jonadab or Jehonadab. They belonged to the Kenites, who accompanied the children of Israel into Palestine, and dwelt among them. Moses married a Kenite wife (Judg. 1:16), and Jael was the wife of “Heber the Kenite” (4:17). Saul also showed kindness to the Kenites (1 Sam. 15:6). The main body of the Kenites dwelt in cities, and adopted settled habits of life (30:29); but Jehonadab forbade his descendants to drink wine or to live in cities. They were commanded to lead always a nomad life. They adhered to the law laid down by Jonadab, and were noted for their fidelity to the old-established custom of their family in the days of Jeremiah (35); and this feature of their character is referred to by the prophet for the purpose of giving point to his own exhortation. They are referred to in Neh. 3:14 and 1 Chr. 2:55. Dr. Wolff (1839) found in Arabia, near Mecca, a tribe claiming to be descendants of Jehonadab; and recently a Bedouin tribe has been found near the Dead Sea who also profess to be descendants of the same Kenite chief.

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RECHABITES. → A family of Kenites descended from Rechab, through Jonadab 1Ch 2:55; Jer 35:6 → Enjoined by Jonadab to drink no wine Jer 35:6 → Adhere to the injunction of abstinence; perpetuation of the family promised as a reward Jer 35 → See ABSTINENCE, TOTAL → See NAZARITES

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descendants of the Kenites 1Ch 2:55; Jer 35:6