History of the Rechabites
Encyclopedia
The History of the Rechabites is an ancient apocrypha
l account of an island nation led by Jonadab
, the son of Rechab
, which appears to be based on a brief account in the Book of Jeremiah
.
The book shows heavy Hellenic
influence, and the narrative is much like a typical Hellenic myth, particularly showing similarity to the tales of the Therapeutae
. It begins with Zosimus
, a hermit, continually begging God to show him the land of the Rechabite
s, until God finally relents and sends an angel
to him to lead him there. The Rechabites are described as enjoying the company of angels, leading an aescetic life, and eating only the luxurious fruits that grow on their fragrant island, and wearing no clothes.
Apocrypha
The term apocrypha is used with various meanings, including "hidden", "esoteric", "spurious", "of questionable authenticity", ancient Chinese "revealed texts and objects" and "Christian texts that are not canonical"....
l account of an island nation led by Jonadab
Jonadab
Jonadab is the name of two men in the Hebrew Bible:*In 2 Samuel 13:3 Jonadab son of Shimeah is described as a 'very shrewd man' . He suggests to Amnon the plan he uses to seduce Tamar....
, the son of Rechab
Rechab
Rechab is the name of three men in the Bible:*One of the two "captains of bands" whom Saul's son Ish-bosheth took into his service, and who conspired to kill him....
, which appears to be based on a brief account in the Book of Jeremiah
Book of Jeremiah
The Book of Jeremiah is the second of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, following the book of Isaiah and preceding Ezekiel and the Book of the Twelve....
.
The book shows heavy Hellenic
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
influence, and the narrative is much like a typical Hellenic myth, particularly showing similarity to the tales of the Therapeutae
Therapeutae
The Therapeutae were a Jewish sect in which flourished in Alexandria and other parts of the Diaspora of Hellenistic Judaism in the final years of the Second Temple period. The primary source is the account De vita contemplativa by the Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria who appears to have...
. It begins with Zosimus
Zosimus
Zosimus was a Byzantine historian, who lived in Constantinople during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I . According to Photius, he was a comes, and held the office of "advocate" of the imperial treasury.- Historia Nova :...
, a hermit, continually begging God to show him the land of the Rechabite
Rechabite
Rechabites are the descendants of Rechab through Jonadab or Jehonadab. They belonged to the Kenites who accompanied the children of Israel into the holy land, and dwelt among them. Moses married a Kenite wife, and Jael was the wife of "Heber the Kenite". Saul also showed kindness to the Kenites...
s, until God finally relents and sends an angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
to him to lead him there. The Rechabites are described as enjoying the company of angels, leading an aescetic life, and eating only the luxurious fruits that grow on their fragrant island, and wearing no clothes.