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History of the Rechabites

A Jewish work describing the Rechabites, a clan who abstained from wine and lived in tents, and their journey to the land of the blessed.|||Survives in Greek and Syriac. Also known as the Story of Zosimus, a Greek text of the 5th century AD. Extant in Greek, Syriac, Ethiopic, Slavonic, and Arabic.|||Probably composed in the 1st–4th century CE.|||Not canonical in any tradition.|||Describes the Rechabites and their journey to the land of the blessed, a paradise-like island where they live in perpetual peace.|||Charlesworth, J. H., ed. The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, vol. 2. Doubleday, 1985.|||Haelewyck, J.-C. Histoire de Zosime sur la vie des bienheureux Réchabites. Peeters, 2016.|||History of the Rechabites — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Rechabites|Background and scholarly discussion.|||" And the Rechabites dwelt in the land of the blessed, and they did not drink wine, nor build houses, but lived in tents." — History of the Rechabites (paraphrase)

Collection: Jewish Pseudepigrapha Canon: varies

Canon Status

Not canonical in any tradition.

Date & Provenance

Probably composed in the 1st–4th century CE.

Language & Manuscripts

Survives in Greek and Syriac. Also known as the Story of Zosimus, a Greek text of the 5th century AD. Extant in Greek, Syriac, Ethiopic, Slavonic, and Arabic.

Why It Matters for Study

Describes the Rechabites and their journey to the land of the blessed, a paradise-like island where they live in perpetual peace.

" And the Rechabites dwelt in the land of the blessed, and they did not drink wine, nor build houses, but lived in tents." — History of the Rechabites (paraphrase)

Read the Text & External Resources

Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.

  • " And the Rechabites dwelt in the land of the blessed, and they did not drink wine, nor build houses, but lived in tents." — History of the Rechabites (paraphrase) " And the Rechabites dwelt in the land of the blessed, and they did not drink wine, nor build houses, but lived in tents." — History of the Rechabites (paraphrase)

External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.

Further Reading

Charlesworth, J. H., ed. The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, vol. 2. Doubleday, 1985.
Haelewyck, J.-C. Histoire de Zosime sur la vie des bienheureux Réchabites. Peeters, 2016.
History of the Rechabites — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Rechabites|Background and scholarly discussion.