Jeremiah35
New American Standard
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,
2“Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak to them, and bring them into the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.”
3So I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons, and all the household of the Rechabites,
4and I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which was next to the chamber of the officials, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the doorkeeper.
5Then I set before the men of the house of the Rechabites pitchers full of wine, and cups; and I said to them, “Drink wine!”
6But they said, “We will not drink wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall not drink wine, you or your sons, forever.
7You shall not build a house, and you shall not sow seed nor plant a vineyard, nor own one; but you shall live in tents all your days, so that you may live many days in the land where you live as strangers.’
8And we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, not to drink wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters,
9nor to build ourselves houses to live in; and we do not have a vineyard, a field, or seed.
10But we have lived only in tents, and have obeyed and have done according to all that our father Jonadab commanded us.
11However, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against the land, we said, ‘Come, and let’s go to Jerusalem away from the army of the Chaldeans and the army of the Arameans.’ So we have lived in Jerusalem.”
12Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying,
13“This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: ‘Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not accept instruction by listening to My words?” declares the Lord.
14“The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab have been followed, which he commanded his sons: not to drink wine. And they do not drink wine to this day, for they have obeyed their father’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not listened to Me.
15Also I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, sending them again and again, saying: ‘Turn now every person from his evil way and amend your deeds, and do not follow other gods to worship them. Then you will live in the land which I have given to you and to your forefathers; but you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me.
16Indeed, the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have followed the command of their father which he commanded them, but this people has not listened to Me.’”’
17Therefore this is what the Lord says, the God of armies, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I am bringing on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them; because I spoke to them but they did not listen, and I have called them but they did not answer.’”
18Then Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, “This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: ‘Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father, kept all his commands, and done according to all that he commanded you,
19therefore this is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: “Jonadab the son of Rechab will not lack a man to stand before Me always.”’”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 35.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The obedience of the Rechabites. (1-11). The Jews' disobedience to the Lord. (12-19).
vv1-11
Jonadab was famous for wisdom and piety. He lived nearly 300 years before, II Kin. 10:15. Jonadab charged his posterity not to drink wine. He also appointed them to dwell in tents, or movable dwelling: this would teach them not to think of settling any where in this world. To keep low, would be the way to continue long in the land where they were strangers. Humility and contentment are always the best policy, and men's surest protection. Also, that they might not run into unlawful pleasures, they were to deny themselves even lawful delights. The consideration that we are strangers and pilgrims should oblige us to abstain from all fleshly lusts. Let them have little to lose, and then losing times would be the less dreadful: let them sit loose to what they had, and then they might with less pain be stript of it. Those are in the best frame to meet sufferings who live a life of self-denial, and who despise the vanities of the world. Jonadab's posterity observed these rules strictly, only using proper means for their safety in a time of general suffering.
vv12-19
The trial of the Rechabites' constancy was for a sign; it made the disobedience of the Jews to God the more marked. The Rechabites were obedient to one who was but a man like themselves, and Jonadab never did for his seed what God has done for his people. Mercy is promised to the Rechabites. We are not told respecting the performance of this promise; but doubtless it was performed, and travellers say the Rechabites may be found a separate people to this day. Let us follow the counsels of our pious forefathers, and we shall find good in so doing.
Key Words
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
יִרְמְיָה: Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
יְהוֹיָקִים: Jehojakim, a Jewish king
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יֹאשִׁיָּה: Joshijah, the name of two Israelites
מֶלֶךְ: a king
Cross References
Jeremiah 35Identifies Jonadab, son of Rechab, who commanded these lifestyle restrictions 300 years prior.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Traces the genealogical origins of the Rechabites to the Kenites of Hemath.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Shows the Kenite origin of the Rechabites and their early history of dwelling in tents.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Records the historical invasion of Chaldean and Syrian bands that forced them into Jerusalem.
Supported by JFB
Describes the chambers built against the walls of the temple, where Jeremiah met them.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the tent-dwelling lifestyle of the patriarchs as strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Illustrates God's persistent efforts in sending prophets early and often, which Israel rejected.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts the Rechabites honoring their earthly father with Israel's failure to honor God.
Supported by JFB
Mentions the office of the 'keeper of the door' in the temple hierarchy.
Supported by JFB
Echoes the prophetic call to return from evil ways and amend doings.
Supported by JFB
Provides the biblical law of the Nazirite vow, which also prohibited drinking wine.
Connects Jonadab's promise of long life in the land to the Fifth Commandment.
Supported by JFB
The basic wisdom command to hear the instruction of a father.
Parallels the promise of a perpetual line to 'stand before' the Lord.