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
(Judges 1:16) and Jael was the wife of "Heber the Kenite"
(Judges 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
(1 Samuel 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
(Jeremiah 35:1)ff 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)
(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.
