H l 1,2. Command of Yahaveh to Jeremiah.
m 3-5. Obedience of Jeremiah.
l 6,7. Command of Jonadab to Rechabites.
m 8-11. Obedience of Rechabites.
496 B.C.
Jeremiah 35)
1 The word which came to Jeremiah (Jeremiah goes back here to insert a preceding event [see 25;1; 26:1], in order to complete the correspondence by introducing the 2nd illustration [34:8-16; 35:1-11) from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah (immediately before Nebuchanezzar's advance, in his 4th year), saying,
2 "Go to the house (put for the descendants of Rechab, through Jonadab his son, who became their chieftain and lawgiver. Cp. v.6) of the Rechabites (They were descended from Hobab, the brother-in-law of Moses. A Kenite tribe, who migrated with Israel to Canaan. Cp. Num. 10:29. with Judg. 1:16; 4:11-17; 5:24. 1 Sam. 15:6. They were proselytes, not idolaters; inhabiting the wilderness south of Judah), and speak to them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers (one of the many, for various purposes of Temple worship. Cp. 36;10 with 1 Kings 6:5. 1 Chron. 9:27. Neh. 13:4-12), and give them wine to drink.
3 Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah (this is a false Jeremiah, he was a Kenite = son of Cain), the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;
4 And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah (see Ps. 90 title), the man of God (i.e. a prophet), which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum (he was the deputy of the High Priest. Cp. 52:24. 2 Kings 25:18. Probably the same whose son Zephaniah, after the carrying away of Maaseiah with Jehoiachin [29:1], held office under Zedekiah [21;1; 29:5; 37:3]), the keeper of the threshold: (There were 3. See 2 Kings 25:18. 2 Chron. 31:14.)
5 And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of wine, and cups, and I said to them, "Drink you wine."
6 But they said, "We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father (genealogy of Kenites) commanded us, saying, 'You shall drink no wine, neither you, nor your sons unto times-abiding:
7 Neither shall you build house (this was as essential as the former injunction), nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days you shall dwell in tents; that you may live many days on the soil where you be strangers. (They can't farm. The mark of Cain.)
8 Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he has charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;
9 Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed: (They are close-knit, successful.)
10 But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.
11 But it came to pass, when (they explain why they did not carry out the latter part of their vow [v.7]) Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, 'Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians:' (This is the only place where they are mentioned with the Chaldeans. They had been made subject to Assyria long before; [Isa. 9:12]. After the fall of Nineveh they came under the yoke of Babylon) so we dwell at Jerusalem." (This is how they became known as "Jews". See Num. 10:29. John 8:21-47)
J n1 12,13. Incrimination.
o1 14-. Obedience of the Rechabites.
n2 -14-. Incrimination.
o2 -14. Disobedience of the nation.
n3 15-. Incrimination.
o3 -15. Disobedience of the nation.
n4 16-. Incrimination.
o4 -16. Disobedience of the nation.
12 Then came the word of the LORD to Jeremiah, saying,
13 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; 'Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 'Will you not receive instruction to hearken to My words? says the LORD.
14 The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for to this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment:
notwithstanding I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking;
but you hearkened not to me.
15 I have sent also to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, 'Return you now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and you shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers:
but you have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened to Me.'
16 Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; (They are praised for their obedience without reference to the nature of the command. Jonadab is not justified by this for imposing his will on all his posterity)
but this people has not hearkened to Me:
F3 p 17-. Threatening to the nation.
q -17. Cause. Disodedience to Yahaveh.
p 18-. Blessing of the Rechabites.
q -18,19. Cause. Obedience to Jonadab.
17 Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel (Yehovah Elohim Zebaoth, Elohim of Israel. This is the fullest [and therefore the most solemn] use of this Divine title); 'Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the tumult that I have pronounced against them:
because I have spoken to them, but they have not heard; and I have called to them, but they have not answered.' ' "
18 And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel;
'Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according to all that he has commanded you:
19 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before Me all the days.' "