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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Rechabite

Rechabite \Re"chab*ite\ (r[=e]"k[a^]b*[imac]t), n. (Jewish Hist.) One of the descendants of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, all of whom by his injunction abstained from the use of intoxicating drinks and even from planting the vine. Jer. xxxv. 2-19. Also, in modern times, a member of a certain society of abstainers from alcoholic liquors.

Wikipedia
Rechabite

Rechabites are a biblical clan, the descendants of Rechab through Jehonadab. They belonged to the Kenites, who accompanied the Israelites into the Holy Land and dwelt among them. The main body of the Kenites dwelt in cities and adopted settled habits of life but Jehonadab forbade his descendants to drink wine or to live in cities. They were commanded to always lead a nomadic life.

The Rechabites adhered to the law laid down by Jonadab, and were noted for their fidelity to the old-established custom of their family in the days of Jeremiah ; and this feature of their character is referred to by God for the purpose of giving point to his message to the King of Judah.

Usage examples of "rechabite".

I was born near it, and used to drink at that pump when I was a Rechabite of six years old.

So that these Rechabites, at least, had horses - as many Arab tribes have now - and whether they rode them, or used them to draw their goods about in carts, like many other wild tribes, they seem to have gained from Jonadab the name of Rechabim, the sons of Rechab, the sons of the rider, or the sons of the chariot.

For in our own time, a traveller met the Rechabites once more in the heart of Arabia, still living in their tents, still calling themselves the sons of Jonadab.

We are not bound, of course - as those old Rechabites considered themselves bound - to do in everything exactly what our forefathers did.

England now, my friends, who would laugh in their hearts at those worthy Rechabites, and hold them to be ignorant, old-fashioned, bigoted people, for keeping up their poor, simple, temperate life, wandering to and fro with their tents and cattle, instead of dwelling in great cities, and making money, and becoming what is now-a-days called civilized, in luxury and covetousness.

Surely according to the wisdom of this world, the Rechabites were foolish enough.