Rechabites
TheRechabites(/ˈrɛkəbaɪts/) are abiblicalclan, the descendants ofRechabthroughJehonadab.
Biblical sources
[edit]One theory is the Rechabites belonged to theKenites,who accompanied theIsraelitesinto theHoly Landand dwelt among them; the sources of information are few and unclear. Kenites dwelt in cities and adopted settled habits of life.[1]Whoever he was, Jehonadab ben Rechab forbade his descendants to drink wine, to own land or vineyards, or to live in cities.[2]They were commanded to always lead a nomadic life.
The Rechabites adhered to the law laid down byJonadab,and were noted for their fidelity to the old established custom of their family in the days ofJeremiah;[3]and this feature of their character is referred to by God for the purpose of giving point to his message to theKing of Judah.[4][5]As a reward for their fidelity, God proclaims that there will always be a descendant ofJonadabin his service.
Claims of descent from the Rechabites
[edit]TheMekhiltatells a story—presumably dating to the lateSecond Templeperiod—of Rechabites, known as "sons of water drinkers" due to their abstention from wine.[6]
RabbiHalafta(1st–2nd centuries) was a descendant of the Rechabites.[7]
The apocryphalStory of Zosimus,from late antiquity, details the journey of a monk named Zosimus to the "Land of the Rechabites".
In 1839 the ReverendJoseph Wolfffound inYemen,nearSana'a,a tribe claiming to be descendants of Jehonadab; and in the late nineteenth century aBedouintribe was found near theDead Seawho also professed to be descendants of Jehonadab.[8]
Many Muslims still claim descent from Rechab, along with the nearly-universal claim ofArabsto be descended fromAbrahamthroughIshmael(Ismail).
Similar later groups
[edit]The termRechabitesalso refers to a religious order, similar in some ways to theNazirites,and they are mentioned byEusebius of Emesa.[9]
In more recent times, the name has been used byChristiangroups keen to promotetotal abstinence from alcohol,such as theIndependent Order of Rechabites.[10]
References
[edit]- ^1 Samuel 30:29
- ^Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913)..Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^Jeremiah 35
- ^Jeremiah 35:14
- ^They are referred to inNehemiah 3:14and1 Chronicles 2:55
- ^Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael,Yithro, Amalek 2
- ^Jewish Encyclopedia"Halafta"
- ^Rechabites–Easton's Bible Dictionary
- ^Eusebius; H. E. ii. 23
- ^Alan Axelrod.International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Fraternal Orders.New York: Facts on File, inc., 1997, p. 206.
Attribution
[edit]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Easton, Matthew George(1897)."Rechabites".Easton's Bible Dictionary(New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons.
Online sources
[edit]- “Rechabites,”Jewish Encyclopedia
- ..1914.