Jeremiah 35:16

16 The descendants of Jonadab, Rechab's son, have carried out the orders of their ancestor, but you refuse to listen to me.

Jeremiah 35:16 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 35:16

Because the son of Jonadab the son of Rechab
Here we have the contrast between the Rechabites and the Israelites; the obedience of the one, and the disobedience of the other; the design of which is to aggravate and expose the sin of the Jews, since the former have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded
them;
that particular commandment of not drinking wine, which they had never once violated in such a course of time; nor could they now be prevailed upon, even by the prophet himself, to do it: but this people hath not hearkened unto me;
the Lord their God, their father that bought them, made them, and established them. Gross ingratitude! ( Deuteronomy 32:6 ) .

Jeremiah 35:16 In-Context

14 Jonadab, Rechab's son, ordered his descendants not to drink wine. This order has been carried out. His descendants have not drunk any wine to this day, because they have obeyed their ancestor's order. I have spoken to you again and again, but you have refused to listen to me.

15 I have sent all my servants the prophets to you again and again. They said, "Turn from your evil ways, do what is right, and don't follow other gods in order to serve them. Then you will live in the land that I gave you and your ancestors." However, you refused to listen to me or obey me.

16 The descendants of Jonadab, Rechab's son, have carried out the orders of their ancestor, but you refuse to listen to me.

17 "'This is what the LORD God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring on Judah and on all those who live in Jerusalem all the disasters that I threatened. I have spoken to them, but they didn't listen. I called to them, but they didn't answer.'"

18 Then Jeremiah said to the family of Rechab, "This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: You obeyed the order of your ancestor Jonadab, followed all his instructions, and did exactly what he told you to do.