The Kenites Who Left Jericho's Riches to Study Torah

Another interpretation: [Putiel] because he separated himself from idolatry, as it is said, "They have moved Me to jealousy with that which is no-god" (Deuteronomy 32:21), and it says, "where was the seat of the image of jealousy" (Ezekiel 8:3). "They went up from the city of palm trees" (Judges 1:16): they left behind the rich land of Jericho and came before Jabez at Arad to study Torah, as it is said, "And Jabez called, etc., and God granted that which he asked" (1 Chronicles 4:10) -- pious ones came to study beside a pious one. For when they apportioned the land, they set aside the rich land of Jericho, five hundred cubits by five hundred cubits. They said: whoever has the Chosen House [the Temple] built in his portion shall take the rich land of Jericho. They gave it to the descendants of Jonadab son of Rechab, who ate from it for four hundred and forty years until the House was built. And once the Divine Presence rested in the portion of Benjamin, the descendants of Benjamin came and cleared them out. "And he went and dwelt with the people" (Judges 1:16) -- "people" here means wisdom, as it is said, "Truly you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you" (Job 12:2). They went and settled beside Jabez, as it is said, "and the families of the scribes who dwelt at Jabez" (1 Chronicles 2:55). "Tirathites": because they shaved [their hair in mourning]. "Tirathites": because they sat at the gates of Jerusalem. "Tirathites": because they cried out [hetriu] and were answered. "Shimeathites": because they heard [shameu] the sound of the trumpet-blast at Sinai. "Suchathites": because they did not anoint themselves [sachu] with oil. "Suchathites": because they dwelt in booths [sukkot]. They said: since this House is destined to be destroyed, we regard it as though it were already destroyed from now on, as it is said, "And we have dwelt in tents and have obeyed and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us" (Jeremiah 35:10). Rabbi Nathan says: greater is the covenant cut with Jonadab son of Rechab than the covenant cut with David. For the covenant cut with David was made only on condition, as it is said, "If your children keep My covenant" (Psalms 132:12) -- and if not, "I will visit their transgression with the rod" (Psalms 89:33). But the covenant cut with Jonadab son of Rechab was not made on condition, as it is said, "Therefore thus says the LORD: Jonadab son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me all the days" (Jeremiah 35:19). Rabbi Jonathan says: do converts then enter the Sanctuary? Why, even Israelites do not enter the Sanctuary, but rather they sit in the Sanhedrin and teach words of Torah. And some say: their daughters were married to priests, and their grandchildren offered sacrifices upon the altar. And how do we know that the descendants of Jonadab son of Rechab were descendants of Jethro? As it is said, "These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab" (1 Chronicles 2:55). Now if these, who drew themselves near, were so drawn near by the Holy One, blessed be He, then Israel, who do the will of the Omnipresent, how much more so!