Rechabite
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Rechabites - the descendants of Rechab through Jonadab or Jehonadab. They belonged to the Kenites, who accompanied the children of Israel into the holy land, and dwelt among them. Moses married a Kenite wife,[1] and Jael was the wife of "Heber the Kenite".[2] Saul also showed kindness to the Kenites.[3] The main body of the Kenites dwelt in cities, and adopted settled habits of life;[4] but Jehonadab forbade his descendants to drink wine or to live in cities.[5] 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 God for the purpose of giving point to his message to Judah.[6][7]
In 1839 the Reverend Joseph Wolff, who later went to Bokhara to attempt to save Conolly and Stoddart, found in the Yemen, near Sanaa, a tribe claiming to be descendants of Jehonadab; and in the late nineteenth century a Bedouin tribe was found near the Dead Sea who also professed to be descendants of Jehonadab.[8]
The term Rechabites also refers to a religious order, similar in some ways to the Nazarites, and are mentioned by Eusebius of Emesa.[9] In more recent times the name has been used by Christian groups keen to promote total abstinence from alcohol, such as the Independent Order of Rechabites.
[edit] References
- ^ Judges 1:16
- ^ Judges 4:17
- ^ 1 Sam. 15:6
- ^ 1 Sam. 30:29
- ^
"Rechab and the Rechabites". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913. http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Rechab_and_the_Rechabites. - ^ Jer 35.14
- ^ They are referred to in Neh. 3:14 and 1 Chr. 2:55
- ^ Rechabites - Easton's Bible Dictionary
- ^ H. E. ii. 23
This article incorporates text from the public domain Easton's Bible Dictionary, originally published in 1897.
