1 The word H1697 which came unto Jeremiah H3414 from the LORD H3068 in the days H3117 of Jehoiakim H3079 the son H1121 of Josiah H2977 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 saying, H559
2 Go H1980 unto the house H1004 of the Rechabites, H7397 and speak H1696 unto them, and bring H935 them into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 into one H259 of the chambers, H3957 and give them wine H3196 to drink. H8248
3 Then I took H3947 Jaazaniah H2970 the son H1121 of Jeremiah, H3414 the son H1121 of Habaziniah, H2262 and his brethren, H251 and all his sons, H1121 and the whole house H1004 of the Rechabites; H7397
4 And I brought H935 them into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 into the chamber H3957 of the sons H1121 of Hanan, H2605 the son H1121 of Igdaliah, H3012 a man H376 of God, H430 which was by H681 the chamber H3957 of the princes, H8269 which was above H4605 the chamber H3957 of Maaseiah H4641 the son H1121 of Shallum, H7967 the keeper H8104 of the door: H5592
5 And I set H5414 before H6440 the sons H1121 of the house H1004 of the Rechabites H7397 pots H1375 full H4392 of wine, H3196 and cups, H3563 and I said H559 unto them, Drink H8354 ye wine. H3196
6 But they said, H559 We will drink H8354 no wine: H3196 for Jonadab H3122 the son H1121 of Rechab H7394 our father H1 commanded H6680 us, saying, H559 Ye shall drink H8354 no wine, H3196 neither ye, nor your sons H1121 for H5704 ever: H5769
7 Neither shall ye build H1129 house, H1004 nor sow H2232 seed, H2233 nor plant H5193 vineyard, H3754 nor have any: but all your days H3117 ye shall dwell H3427 in tents; H168 that ye may live H2421 many H7227 days H3117 in H6440 the land H127 where ye be strangers. H1481
8 Thus have we obeyed H8085 the voice H6963 of Jonadab H3082 the son H1121 of Rechab H7394 our father H1 in all that he hath charged H6680 us, to drink H8354 no wine H3196 all our days, H3117 we, our wives, H802 our sons, H1121 nor our daughters; H1323
9 Nor to build H1129 houses H1004 for us to dwell in: H3427 neither have we vineyard, H3754 nor field, H7704 nor seed: H2233
10 But we have dwelt in H3427 tents, H168 and have obeyed, H8085 and done H6213 according to all that Jonadab H3122 our father H1 commanded H6680 us.
11 But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 came up H5927 into the land, H776 that we said, H559 Come, H935 and let us go H935 to Jerusalem H3389 for fear H6440 of the army H2428 of the Chaldeans, H3778 and for fear H6440 of the army H2428 of the Syrians: H758 so we dwell H3427 at Jerusalem. H3389
12 Then came the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 unto Jeremiah, H3414 saying, H559
13 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 Go H1980 and tell H559 the men H376 of Judah H3063 and the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 Will ye not receive H3947 instruction H4148 to hearken H8085 to my words? H1697 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
14 The words H1697 of Jonadab H3082 the son H1121 of Rechab, H7394 that he commanded H6680 his sons H1121 not to drink H8354 wine, H3196 are performed; H6965 for unto this day H3117 they drink H8354 none, but obey H8085 their father's H1 commandment: H4687 notwithstanding I have spoken H1696 unto you, rising early H7925 and speaking; H1696 but ye hearkened H8085 not unto me.
15 I have sent H7971 also unto you all my servants H5650 the prophets, H5030 rising up early H7925 and sending H7971 them, saying, H559 Return H7725 ye now every man H376 from his evil H7451 way, H1870 and amend H3190 your doings, H4611 and go H3212 not after H310 other H312 gods H430 to serve H5647 them, and ye shall dwell in H3427 the land H127 which I have given H5414 to you and to your fathers: H1 but ye have not inclined H5186 your ear, H241 nor hearkened H8085 unto me.
16 Because the sons H1121 of Jonadab H3082 the son H1121 of Rechab H7394 have performed H6965 the commandment H4687 of their father, H1 which he commanded H6680 them; but this people H5971 hath not hearkened H8085 unto me:
17 Therefore thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 God H430 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 Behold, I will bring H935 upon Judah H3063 and upon all the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 all the evil H7451 that I have pronounced H1696 against them: because I have spoken H1696 unto them, but they have not heard; H8085 and I have called H7121 unto them, but they have not answered. H6030
18 And Jeremiah H3414 said H559 unto the house H1004 of the Rechabites, H7397 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 Because ye have obeyed H8085 the commandment H4687 of Jonadab H3082 your father, H1 and kept H8104 all his precepts, H4687 and done H6213 according unto all that he hath commanded H6680 you:
19 Therefore thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 Jonadab H3122 the son H1121 of Rechab H7394 shall not want H3772 a man H376 to stand H5975 before H6440 me for ever. H3117
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Jeremiah 35
Commentary on Jeremiah 35 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 35
Jer 35:1-19. Prophecy in the Reign of Jehoiakim, when the Chaldeans, in Conjunction with the Syrians and Moabites, Invaded Judea.
By the obedience of the Rechabites to their father, Jeremiah condemns the disobedience of the Jews to God their Father. The Holy Spirit has arranged Jeremiah's prophecies by the moral rather than the chronological connection. From the history of an event fifteen years before, the Jews, who had brought back their manumitted servants into bondage, are taught how much God loves and rewards obedience, and hates and punishes disobedience.
2. Rechabites—a nomadic tribe belonging to the Kenites of Hemath (1Ch 2:55), of the family of Jethro, or Hobab, Moses' father-in-law (Ex 18:9, &c.; Nu 10:29-32; Jud 1:16). They came into Canaan with the Israelites, but, in order to preserve their independence, chose a life in tents without a fixed habitation (1Sa 15:6). Besides the branch of them associated with Judah and extending to Amalek, there was another section at Kadesh, in Naphtali (Jud 4:11, 17). They seem to have been proselytes of the gate, Jonadab, son of Rechab, whose charge not to drink wine they so strictly obeyed, was zealous for God (2Ki 10:15-23). The Nabatheans of Arabia observed the same rules [Diodorus Siculus, 19.94].
bring … into … house of … Lord—because there were suitable witnesses at hand there from among the priests and chief men, as also because he had the power immediately to address the people assembled there (Jer 35:13). It may have been also as a reproof of the priests, who drank wine freely, though commanded to refrain from it when in the discharge of their duties [Calvin].
chambers—which were round about the temple, applied to various uses, for example, to contain the vestments, sacred vessels, &c.
3. Jaazaniah—the elder and chief of the clan.
4. man of God—a prophet (De 33:1; 1Sa 2:27; 1Ki 12:22; 2Ki 4:7), also "a servant of God" in general (1Ti 6:11), one not his own, but God's; one who has parted with all right in himself to give himself wholly to God (2Ti 3:17). He was so reverenced that none would call in question what was transacted in his chamber.
keeper of the door—Hebrew, "of the vessel." Probably the office meant is that of the priest who kept in charge the capitation money paid for the use of the temple and the votive offerings, such as silver vessels, &c. There were seven such keepers [Grotius]. Compare 2Ki 12:9; 25:18; 1Ch 9:18, 19, which support English Version.
I said … Drink—Jeremiah does not say, The Lord saith, Drink: for then they would have been bound to obey. Contrast the case in 1Ki 13:7-26.
6. Jonadab … our father—that is, forefather and director, three hundred years before (2Ki 10:15). They were called Rechabites, not Jonadabites, having received their name from Rechab the father, previously to their adopting the injunctions of Jonadab his son. This case affords no justification for slavish deference to the religious opinions of the Christian fathers: for Jonadab's injunction only affected matters of the present life; moreover, it was not binding on their consciences, for they deemed it not unlawful to go to Jerusalem in the invasion (Jer 35:11). What is praised here is not the father's injunction, but the obedience of the sons [Calvin].
7. tents—(Jud 4:17).
live many days—according to the promise connected with the fifth commandment (Ex 20:12; Eph 6:2, 3).
strangers—They were not of the stock of Jacob, but sojourners in Israel. Types of the children of God, pilgrims on earth, looking for heaven as their home: having little to lose, so that losing times cost them little alarm; sitting loose to what they have (Heb 10:34; 11:9, 10, 13-16).
8. all that he … charged us … all our days, we … wives … sons … daughters—unreserved obedience in all particulars, at all times, and on the part of all, without exception: in these respects Israel's obedience to God was wanting. Contrast 1Sa 15:20, 21; Ps 78:34-37, 41, 56, 57.
11. Chaldeans … Syrians—when Jehoiakim revolted from Nebuchadnezzar (2Ki 24:1, 2). Necessity sets aside all other laws. This is the Rechabites' excuse for their seeming disobedience to Jonadab in temporarily settling in a city. Herein was seen the prescient wisdom of Jonadab's commands; they could at a moment's notice migrate, having no land possessions to tie them.
14. obey … father's commandment: notwithstanding I—(Mal 1:6).
rising early and speaking—God Himself speaking late and early by His various ways of providence and grace.
15. In Jer 35:15 and in 2Ch 36:15, a distinct mode of address is alluded to, namely, God sending His servants. (Jer 18:11; 25:5, 6). I enjoined nothing unreasonable, but simply to serve Me, and I attached to the command a gracious promise, but in vain. If Jonadab's commands, which were arbitrary and not moral obligations in themselves, were obeyed, much more ought Mine, which are in themselves right.
17. because I have spoken … not heard … I … called … not answered—(Pr 1:24; Isa 65:12).
19. not want a man to stand before me—There shall always be left representatives of the clan to worship Me (Jer 15:1, 19); or, "before Me" means simple existence, for all things in existence are in God's sight (Ps 89:36). The Rechabites returned from the captivity. Wolff found traces of them in Arabia.