The Rechabites (Jeremiah 35)

2023-12-23

The Rechabites were descended from a Jonadab, the son of Rechab. This progenitor of the group entrusted them with traditions that included not drinking wine and required them to live as nomads. Only in the days of the Babylonian invasion did they move into the walls of Jerusalem.

Even when confronted by the godly Jeremiah to deviate from their course and drink wine, they wouldn’t. “But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever: Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers” (Jeremiah 35:6-7).

Their ancestor Jonadab is presumably the same as Jehonadab son of Rechab who allied himself with Jehu. This man shared the king’s zeal for the LORD, bringing judgment on the house of Ahab and the prophets of Baal. “And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot. And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot” (2 Kings 10:15-16).

It is possible that these Rechabites were not of Israel, for assuming this is the same Rechab, we read, “And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab” (1 Chronicles 2:55). The Kenites were Moses’ father-in-law’s people (Judges 1:16). This would surely be a snub to Israel if these foreigners could keep commandment better than they.

This Jonadab trained his family so well that they followed his traditions for hundreds of years. The LORD told Jeremiah to invite them to drink wine, and they would not do it. These Rechabites were a picture of what Israel should have been like towards God’s commandments. “The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me” (Jeremiah 35:14).

For us, we do not necessarily emulate the Rechabites’ resolution to follow their fathers’ specific traditions. Rather, we look at their dedication in general, saying, whatever the Lord has commanded, we will have the same perseverance as those men did, even if compelled to do otherwise.