Bible Encyclopedia: Rechab

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

Strong's Hebrew

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

2575b. Chammath -- perhaps "hot (spring)," father of the house of ...
... 2575a, 2575b. Chammath. 2576 . perhaps "hot (spring)," father of the house
of Rechab. Transliteration: Chammath Short Definition: Hammath. ...
/hebrew/2575b.htm - 5k

7397. Rekah -- descendant of Rechab
... 7396, 7397. Rekah. 7397a . descendant of Rechab. Transliteration: Rekah
Phonetic Spelling: (ray-kaw') Short Definition: Rechah. Rechah ...
/hebrew/7397.htm - 5k

7394. Rekab -- perhaps "band of riders," a Benjamite, also the ...
... perhaps "band of riders," a Benjamite, also the head of a nomadic family.
Transliteration: Rekab Phonetic Spelling: (ray-kawb') Short Definition: Rechab. ... Rechab. ...
/hebrew/7394.htm - 6k

Library

False Civilization
... Jeremiah 35:19. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the
son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever. ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon vi false civilization.htm

Catholic Spirit
... First Series Sermon 39 Catholic Spirit. "And when he was departed thence, he lighted
on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him, and he saluted him, and ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 39 catholic spirit.htm

Approaching Doom
... "We will drink no wine," the Rechabites firmly declared, "for Jonadab the son of
Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 35 approaching doom.htm

How Abraham, David, and Other Saints Went Beyond the Requirement ...
... wandered about in deserts and in mountains, and in caves and in dens of the earth."
[2166] What shall I say of the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab, of whom ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter iv how abraham david.htm

The Blessing of God on Filial Piety.
... Jeremiah xxxv.19. "Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Jonadab,
the son of Rechab, shall not want a man to stand before me forever.'". ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxiii the blessing of.htm

A Shepherd Boy who was Called to Lead a Nation
... weaker. Then Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon, went about midday to
the palace of Ishbaal, as he was taking his rest at noon. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/a shepherd boy who was.htm

The Narrative of Zosimus Concerning the Life of the Blessed.
... And our father Rechab, the son of Aminadab, heard him and said to us, Ye sons and
daughters of Rechab, hearken to your father, and put off your garments from ...
/.../unknown/the narrative of zosimus/the narrative of zosimus concerning.htm

A Great Religious Awakening.
... I spent six days with the children of Rechab. ... who expect, with the children of Rechab,
the speedy arrival of the Messiah in the clouds of heaven."(604). ...
/.../20 a great religious awakening.htm

A Great Religious Awakening
... Joseph Wolff, page 377. "In Yemen . . . I spent six days with the children
of Rechab. They drink no wine, plant no vineyard, sow ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 20 a great religious.htm

Letter Lviii. To Paulinus.
... [1777] The sons of Rechab too are of the number who drank neither wine nor strong
drink and who abode in tents; men whom God's voice praises through Jeremiah ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lviii to paulinus.htm

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Rechab

square; chariot with team of four horses

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Rechab

(rider).

One of the two "captains of bands" whom Ish-bosheth took into his service, and who conspired to murder him. (2 Samuel 4:2) (B.C. 1046.)
The father of Malchiah, ruler of part of Beth-haccerem. (Nehemiah 3:14) (B.C. before 446.)
The father or ancestor of Jehonadab. (2 Kings 10:15,33; 1 Chronicles 2:65; Jeremiah 35:6-19) (B.C.before 882.) It was from this Rechab that the tribe of the Rechabites derived their name. In (1 Chronicles 2:55) the house of Rechab is identified with a section of the Kenites, a Midianitish tribe who came into Canaan with the Israelites, and retained their nomadic habits. The real founder of the tribe was Jehonadab. [JEHONADAB] He and his people had all along been worshippers of Jehovah, circumcised, though not looked upon as belonging to Israel and probably therefore not considering themselves bound by the Mosaic law and ritual. The worship of Baal was offensive to them. Jonadab inaugurated a reformation and compelled a more rigid adherence than ever to the old Arab life. They were neither to drink wine, nor build houses, nor sow seed, nor plant nor have any vineyard. All their days they were to dwell in tents. (Jeremiah 35:6,7) This was to be the condition of their retaining a distinct tribal existence. For two centuries and a half they adhered faithfully to this rule. The invasion of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar, in B.C. 607, drove the Rechabites from their tents to Jerusalem, where they stood proof against temptation, and were specially blessed. (Jeremiah 35:2-19) There is much of interest in relation to the present condition of these people. Dr. Wolf reports that the Jews of Jerusalem and Yemen told him that he would find the Rechabites of Jere 35 living near Mecca, in the mountainous country northeast of Medina. When he came near Senaa he came in contact with a tribe, the Beni-Khabir , who identified themselves with the sons of Jehonadab. They claimed to number 60,000, to adhere to the old rules, and to be a fulfillment of the promise made to Jehonadab.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Horseman, or chariot.

(1.) One of Ishbosheth's "captains of bands" or leaders of predatory troops (2 Samuel 4:2).

(2.) The father of Jehonadab, who was the father of the Rechabites (2 Kings 10:15, 23; Jeremiah 35:6-19).

Thesaurus

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

Recab (12 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 4:2 And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands; the name of
the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the ...
/r/recab.htm - 10k

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

Rechabites (4 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The descendants of Rechab through Jonadab or Jehonadab. ...
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. RECHAB; RECHABITES. ...
/r/rechabites.htm - 13k

Jon'adab (11 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 35:6 And they say, 'We do not drink wine: for Jonadab son of Rechab, our
father, charged us, saying, Ye do not drink wine, ye and your sons -- unto ...
/j/jon'adab.htm - 9k

Jehonadab (2 Occurrences)
... (2.) A son of Rechab, the founder of a tribe who bound themselves by a vow to
abstain from wine (Jeremiah 35:6-19). ... See RECHAB, RECHABITES. ...
/j/jehonadab.htm - 11k

Baanah (10 Occurrences)
... He and his brother Rechab assassinated Ishbosheth (2 Samuel 4:2), and were on this
account slain by David, and their mutilated bodies suspended over the pool ...
/b/baanah.htm - 10k

Ba'anah (9 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 4:2 Ishbosheth, Saul's son, had two men who were captains of bands: the
name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of ...
/b/ba'anah.htm - 8k

Beerothite (4 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 4:2 Ishbosheth, Saul's son, had two men who were captains of bands: the
name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of ...
/b/beerothite.htm - 8k

Rimmon (22 Occurrences)
... and TABRIMMON (which see) and its meaning is dubious (ramamu, "to thunder" (?))
2) A Benjamite of Beeroth, whose sons Baanah and Rechab assassinated Ish ...
/r/rimmon.htm - 18k

Bible Concordance

Rechab (13 Occurrences)

2 Samuel 4:2 Ishbosheth, Saul's son, had two men who were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin (for Beeroth also is reckoned to Benjamin:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Samuel 4:5 The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, as he took his rest at noon.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Samuel 4:6 They came there into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they struck him in the body: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Samuel 4:9 David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, "As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Kings 10:15 When he had departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. He greeted him, and said to him, "Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?" Jehonadab answered, "It is." "If it is, give me your hand." He gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Kings 10:23 Jehu went with Jehonadab the son of Rechab into the house of Baal. Then he said to the worshippers of Baal, "Search, and look that there are here with you none of the servants of Yahweh, but the worshippers of Baal only."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Chronicles 2:55 The families of scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came of Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Nehemiah 3:14 The dung gate repaired Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth Haccherem; he built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 35:6 But they said, We will drink no wine; for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, You shall drink no wine, neither you, nor your sons, forever:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 35:8 We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 35:14 The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; and to this day they drink none, for they obey their father's commandment: but I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking; and you have not listened to me.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 35:16 Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father which he commanded them, but this people has not listened to me;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 35:19 therefore thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me forever.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Subtopics

Rechab

Rechab: Father of Jehonadab

Rechab: Father of Jehonadab: Ancestor of the Rechabites

Rechab: Father of Malchiah

Rechab: Son of Rimmon: Murders Ish-Bosheth, Son of Saul; Put to Death by David

Related Terms

Recab (12 Occurrences)

Jonadab (11 Occurrences)

Rechabites (4 Occurrences)

Jon'adab (11 Occurrences)

Jehonadab (2 Occurrences)