The Rechabites were a nomadic clan in ancient Israel, known for their strict adherence to the commands of their ancestor Jonadab (or Jehonadab) son of Rechab. They are prominently mentioned in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Jeremiah, where their lifestyle and obedience are highlighted as exemplary.

Ancestry and Origin

The Rechabites trace their lineage to Rechab, a Kenite, who was associated with the Midianites. The Kenites were a group of people who lived in the region of Canaan and were known for their metalworking skills. Jonadab, the son of Rechab, is a significant figure in the history of the Rechabites. He is noted for his alliance with Jehu, the king of Israel, during the purge of Baal worship from Israel (2 Kings 10:15-28).

Lifestyle and Commandments

Jonadab commanded his descendants to live a life of simplicity and separation from the settled agricultural society of Israel. The Rechabites were instructed to abstain from wine, not to build houses, sow seed, or plant vineyards, and to live in tents. This lifestyle was intended to preserve their nomadic heritage and maintain their distinct identity within Israel.

Biblical Account in Jeremiah

The most detailed account of the Rechabites is found in Jeremiah 35. In this chapter, the prophet Jeremiah uses the Rechabites as an object lesson for the people of Judah. God instructs Jeremiah to bring the Rechabites into the temple and offer them wine. Despite the offer, the Rechabites refuse to drink, citing the command of their ancestor Jonadab:

"But they replied, 'We do not drink wine, for Jonadab son of Rechab, our forefather, commanded us: “Neither you nor your descendants are ever to drink wine. You must not build a house or sow seed or plant a vineyard. These things are not for you. Instead, you must live in tents all your days, so that you may live a long time in the land where you sojourn.”' (Jeremiah 35:6-7).

Their obedience to Jonadab's command is contrasted with the disobedience of the people of Judah to the commands of God. The Rechabites' faithfulness serves as a rebuke to Judah, highlighting the importance of obedience to divine commandments.

Divine Approval and Promise

God commends the Rechabites for their steadfastness and promises them a perpetual legacy:

"Therefore, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'Jonadab son of Rechab will never fail to have a man to stand before Me.'" (Jeremiah 35:19).

This promise underscores the value of faithfulness and obedience, as the Rechabites' commitment to their ancestral commands is rewarded with divine favor.

Significance and Legacy

The Rechabites are often cited as an example of faithfulness and integrity. Their commitment to their ancestral traditions and their willingness to stand apart from the prevailing culture of their time serve as a model for living a life dedicated to principles and obedience to God. Their account is a powerful reminder of the blessings that come from steadfast adherence to God's commands and the enduring legacy of faithfulness.Rechabites

[RECHAB]

Rechabites

Scripture acquaints us, Jeremiah 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, Jeremiah 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.

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 (Judges 1:16), and Jael was the wife of "Heber the Kenite" (4:17). Saul also showed kindness to the Kenites (1 Samuel 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 Nehemiah 3:14 and 1 Chronicles 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. RECHAB; RECHABITES

re'-kab, rek'-a-bits (rekhabh, rekhabhim): Rechab is the name of two men of some prominence in the Old Testament records:

(1) A Benjamite of the town of Beeroth, son of Rimmon (2 Samuel 4:2); he and his brother Baanah were "captains" of the military host of Ish-bosheth. On the death of Abner (2 Samuel 3:30) the two brothers treacherously entered Ish-bosheth's house, when at noon he was resting and helpless, beheaded him, and escaped with the head to David at Hebron (2 Samuel 4:6-8). They expected to receive reward and honor from David for the foul deed, which left him without a rival for the throne of all Israel. But the just and noble-minded king ordered their immediate execution (2 Samuel 4:9-12), as in the case of the Amalekite, who asserted that he had killed Saul (2 Samuel 1). For some reason the Beerothites left their own town and fled to Gittaim, another town in Benjamin, where they were still living when the Books of Samuel were written (2 Samuel 4:3).

(2) The more prominent of the men bearing this name was a Kenite (see KENITES), a descendant of Hammath (1 Chronicles 2:55). A part of the Kenite tribe joined the Israelites during the wilderness wanderings (Numbers 10:29-32 Judges 1:16; Judges 4:17), becoming identified with the tribe of Judah, although Heber and Jael his wife were settled in Northern Palestine (Judges 4:17). Rechab was the ancestor or founder of a family, or order, in Israel known as the Rechabites, who at various times were conspicuous in the religious life of the nation. The most notable member of this family was Jehonadab (2 Kings 10:15; 2 Kings 23), or Jonadab, as he is called in Jeremiah 35. Jehonadab was a zealous Yahweh-worshipper and took part with Jehu in the extirpation of Baal-worship and the house of Ahab. He set for his descendants a vow of asceticism: that they should drink no wine, nor plant fields or vineyards, nor build nor live in houses throughout their generations (Jeremiah 35:6, 7). That must have been a singular feature in Palestinian life: the simple, nomadic life of this family from generation to generation in the midst of settled agricultural and industrial conditions! They followed this simple life in order to guard against the enervating tendencies of sensualism, and as a covenant of fidelity to Yahweh, to whom they wholly devoted themselves when they joined themselves to Israel. Jeremiah used the Rechabites, who had been driven into Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar's investment of the land, as an object-lesson to covenant-breaking Judah. The Rechabites, hungry and thirsty, refused wine when it was set before them, because of the command of their ancestor Jonadab (Jeremiah 35:8-10); but Judah refused to heed Yahweh's commands or to keep His covenant (Jeremiah 35:14, 15).

If the Rechab of Nehemiah 3:14 is the same as this Kenite, then his descendant Malchijah, who assisted Nehemiah in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, may have abandoned the vow of his ancestors, for he was "ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem" (i.e. "house of the vineyard").

Edward Mack

7397a. Rekabi -- descendant of Rechab
... descendant of Rechab. Transliteration: Rekabi Short Definition: Rechabites. Word
Origin from Rekab Definition desc. of Rechab NASB Word Usage Rechabites (4). ...
/hebrew/7397a.htm - 5k

The Rechabites
... THE RECHABITES. ... The Rechabites had lived a nomad life, dwelling in tents,
not practising agriculture, abstaining from intoxicants. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the rechabites.htm

Approaching Doom
... To illustrate the importance of yielding implicit obedience to the requirements
of God, Jeremiah gathered some Rechabites into one of the chambers of the ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 35 approaching doom.htm

False Civilization
... Let us think a while this morning what this text has to do with us; and why this
strange story of the Rechabites is written for our instruction, in the pages ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon vi false civilization.htm

The Blessing of God on Filial Piety.
... manner"to try to shame them into contrition, by setting before them the part acted
by a particular family which dwelt among them"the Rechabites, who had ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxiii the blessing of.htm

The Martyrdom of James, who was Called the Brother of the Lord.
... And while they were thus stoning him one of the priests of the sons of Rechab, the
son of the Rechabites, [509] who are mentioned by Jeremiah the prophet, [510 ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xxiii the martyrdom of james.htm

On Obedience to Pastors
... "The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, Go unto the house of the
Rechabites, and give them wine to drink. Then I took the ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 97 on obedience to.htm

Article xxvii (xiii): of Monastic Vows.
... The Rechabites also are cited, who did not have any possessions, and did
not drink wine, as Jeremiah writes, chap.35, 6f. Yea, truly ...
/.../the apology of the augsburg confession/part 35 article xxvii xiii .htm

Expositions of Holy Scripture
... WHAT THE IMMENSE CREATION TEACHES. A THREEFOLD DISEASE AND A TWOFOLD CURE. THE
RECHABITES. JEREMIAH'S ROLL BURNED AND REPRODUCED. ZEDEKIAH. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/

The Kingdom in Captivity
... Seek them not.". XI. Leading Chapters: 29. Letter to the Captives. 35. The
Rechabites and Strong Drink. XII. Omit. XIII. Questions: ...
/.../palmer/a birds-eye view of the bible/vi the kingdom in captivity.htm

Exhortations to Christians as they are Children of God
... I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups,
and I said unto them, Drink ye wine; but they said, we will drink no wine ...
/.../20 exhortations to christians as.htm

Rechabites (4 Occurrences)
... descendants of the same Kenite chief. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. RECHAB;
RECHABITES. re'-kab, rek'-a-bits (rekhabh, rekhabhim ...
/r/rechabites.htm - 13k

Re'chabites (4 Occurrences)
Re'chabites. Rechabites, Re'chabites. Rechah . Multi-Version Concordance
Re'chabites (4 Occurrences). Jeremiah 35:2 Go to the house ...
/r/re'chabites.htm - 7k

Rechab (13 Occurrences)
... (2.) The father of Jehonadab, who was the father of the Rechabites (2 Kings 10:15,
23; Jeremiah 35:6-19). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. RECHAB; RECHABITES. ...
/r/rechab.htm - 15k

Jehonadab (2 Occurrences)
... There were different settlements of Rechabites (Judges 1:16; 4:11; 1 Chronicles
2:55). ... See RECHAB, RECHABITES. David Francis Roberts. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/j/jehonadab.htm - 11k

Kenites (8 Occurrences)
... The Rechabites belonged to this tribe (1 Chronicles 2:55) and in the days of Jeremiah
(35:7-10) are referred to as following their nomad habits. ...
/k/kenites.htm - 13k

Nazirite (10 Occurrences)
... It was in this same protest that the Rechabites, who were at least akin to the
Nazirites, went still farther in refusing even in Canaan to abandon the nomadic ...
/n/nazirite.htm - 21k

Jaazaniah (5 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Heard by Jehovah. (1.) The son of Jeremiah, and one of
the chief Rechabites (Jeremiah 35:3). (2.) The son of Shaphan (Ezek. 8:11). ...
/j/jaazaniah.htm - 11k

Jonadab (11 Occurrences)
... Jehon'adab. (1.) The son of Rechab, and founder of the Rechabites (qv), 2 Kings
10:15; Jeremiah 35:6, 10. (2.) The son of Shimeah, David's brother (Int. ...
/j/jonadab.htm - 10k

Recabites (2 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 35:3 And I take Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah, and his
brethren, and all his sons, and all the house of the Rechabites, (See NIV). ...
/r/recabites.htm - 7k

Habaziniah (1 Occurrence)
... Version (British and American) HABAZZINIAH, hab-a-zi-ni'-a (Jeremiah 35, 3)): The
grandfather of Jaazaniah, who was the leader of the Rechabites who were ...
/h/habaziniah.htm - 7k

Who were the Rechabites in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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