As a mark of particular favor and esteem. Jehu would be happy to have the support of this influential ascetic who must have been a man of some note in the kingdom at that time.

 As Jehu made his departure from Beth-eked he met with Jehonadab, who, it seems, was then on his way to see him. Jehonadab is the son of Rechab mentioned in Jer. 35:6-10, who commanded his descendants to live an abstemious life by not drinking wine, building houses, planting vineyards or fields. They were to live in tents. Rechab belonged to the tribe of Kenites (1 Chron. 2:55), one of the ancient peoples of Palestine (Gen. 15:19), Moses’ father-in-law in Midian was a Kenite (Judges 1:16), and so, at the time of the judges, was Heber, who lived in Galilee (Judges 4:11, 17). When Israel entered Palestine the Kenites settled in the Wilderness of Judah (Judges 1:16). At the time of Saul there were Kenites dwelling among the Amalekites, but they were spared by Saul because of the kindness shown by them to Israel at the time of the Exodus (1 Sam. 15:6). The Rechabites remained constant nomads, having habits much like those of the Arabs. Their leader Jehonadab seems to have sympathized strongly with Jehu and desired to give the countenance of his authority to the new regime.

What Jehu meant was, “Is your heart true to mine, as mine is to yours?” Jehu evidently was kindly disposed to Jehonadab and desired his friendship and support. This stern leader had probably become highly displeased with the wicked ways of the Israelite court and gladly gave his support to the new regime.

 As to the significance of the giving of the hand as an act of fidelity see Eze. 17:18. In 1 Chron. 29:24 the Hebrew phrase which may be literally translated, “they gave the hand,” is rendered, “submitted themselves.”