Jonadab, son of Rekab, was an influential figure in Israel's history known for two very different roles. In 2 Samuel, a Jonadab appears as Amnon's cunning advisor, while Jonadab son of Rekab in 2 Kings is known for his zeal for the Lord and for establishing the Rechabites' strict rules of conduct, which were praised by the prophet Jeremiah.
4He said to him, "Why are you, the king's son, so haggard morning after morning? Won't you tell me?" Amnon answered, "I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom."
5Jonadab said to him, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. When your father comes to see you, say to him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food where I can see it, so that I may watch and eat from her hand.'"
32But Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, "My lord must not think that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons. Only Amnon is dead. This has been Absalom's fixed purpose from the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar.
15When he left there, he met Jehonadab son of Rechab, who was coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him and said, "Is your heart as true to me as mine is to you?" "It is indeed," Jehonadab answered. "Then give me your hand," said Jehu. So he gave him his hand, and Jehu helped him up into the chariot
23Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal, and Jehu said to the servants of Baal, "Search and make sure that no servant of the LORD is here among you—only servants of Baal."
25As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu ordered the guards and the officers, "Go in and strike them down; let no one escape." So they cut them down with the sword. Then the guards and officers threw the bodies out and went on into the inner shrine of the temple of Baal.[^1]
[^1]: The Hebrew word here normally means "city"; the sense of the phrase is uncertain, and it may refer to an inner room or citadel of the temple.
Jonadab son of Rekab established strict rules of life for his descendants: they were not to drink wine, not to build houses, not to sow seed or plant vineyards, but to live in tents.
7You are not to build houses, or sow seed, or plant vineyards, or own them. Instead, you are to live in tents all your days, so that you may live long in the land where you are sojourning.'
8We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab son of Rechab, our father, in everything he commanded us: to drink no wine all our days—neither we, nor our wives, nor our sons and daughters.
The prophet Jeremiah used the Rechabites' obedience to Jonadab's commands as an example and contrast to Israel's disobedience to God. The Lord promised that Jonadab's line would always have a man to stand before His presence.
14The command of Jonadab son of Rechab, who ordered his sons not to drink wine, has been carried out. To this day they have drunk none, because they obeyed their father's command. But I have spoken to you again and again, and you have not listened to me.
18Then Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, "This is what the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, says: Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and have kept all his precepts, doing everything he commanded you,