Rechab

A son of Rimmon. With his brother Baanah, Rechab commanded bands of raiders under Ishbosheth, the son of King Saul. Hoping to please David, they killed Ishbosheth. But, they angered David with this killing. David had the two men put to death (2 Samuel 4:1–3, 5–12).

The father of Jehonadab (or Jonadab). Jehonadab helped Jehu kill many of the people who followed King Ahab in Samaria (2 Kings 10:15–27).

The prophet Jeremiah refers to the followers and descendants of Rechab as Rechabites. They obeyed Jehonadab’s command not to drink wine, build houses, plant crops, or grow vineyards. Instead, they lived in tents as nomads (people who move from place to place). Jeremiah praised the Rechabites for staying loyal to their family’s teaching. He said they were more faithful than the people of Judah and Jerusalem, who had not obeyed God. Jeremiah said that God would bring judgment against Judah and Jerusalem. But he promised that the Rechabites would be kept safe (Jeremiah 35:1–19).