rechabites Summary and Overview

the descendants of Rechab through Jonadab or Jehonadab. They belonged to the Kenites, who accompanied the children of Israel into Israel, 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.

[RECHAB]

RE'CHABITES , THE, were a tribe of Kenites or Midianites, 1 Chr 2:55, descended from Jonadab, or Jehonadab, the son or descendant of Rechab, 2 Kgs 10:15, from whom they derive their name. They were worshippers of the true God, practised circumcision, and stood within the covenant of Abraham, but they were not reckoned as children of Israel, and perhaps they did not feel themselves bound by the Mosaic Law and ritual. The introduction of the worship of Baal by Jezebel and Ahab was a horror to them. Jonadab appears to have been very zealous for the pure worship of God, and was associated with Jehu in the destruction of the idolatrous house of Ahab. He established a rule for his posterity that they should possess neither land nor houses, but should live in tents, and should drink no wine or strong drink. In obedience to this rule, the Rechabites continued a separate but peaceable people, living in tents and removing from place to place as circumstances required. When Judaea was first invaded by Nebuchadnezzar they fled to Jerusalem for safety, where it pleased God, through the prophet Jeremiah, to exhibit them to the wicked inhabitants of Jerusalem as an example of constancy in their obedience to the mandates of an earthly father. Jer 35:2-19. Some highly -interesting facts are known respecting the present condition of the Rechabites. They still dwell in the mountainous tropical country to the north-east of Medina. They are called Beni Khaibr, "sons of Heber," and their land is called Khaibr. They have no intercourse with their brethren, the Jews, who are dispersed over Asia, and are esteemed as "false brethren "because they observe not the Law.