Ree´kab
1 The son of Rimmon who, with his brother Baanah, was a captain of Ishbosheth’s bands. After Abner’s death, the two brothers murdered Ishbosheth and brought his head to David, whom they expected to be pleased; instead, David had the brothers executed (2Sam 4). 2 An ancestor of Jehonadab (Jonadab), a Kenite (1Chr 2:55) who supported Jehu’s coup (2Kgs 10:15). Toward the end of Jehu’s monarchy (ca. 816 BC), a group of his followers called “Rechabites” came to Jerusalem to escape Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion. They apparently lived in tents, avoided agriculture, and drank no wine in accordance with the principles of Jehonadab. Jeremiah cited them as an example of fidelity to prior commitments, in contrast to the unfaithful Judeans. Although Judah had therefore to be punished for its infidelity, Jeremiah assured the Rechabites that there would always be a descendant of Jonadab (Jer 35).
