1 The wordwhichcame to Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of 1Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,
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"Go to the house of the 2Rechabites and speak to them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the 3chambers, and give them wine to drink."
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Then I tookJaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons and the wholehouse of the Rechabites,
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and I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the 4man of God, which was near the chamber of the officials, which was above* the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, 5the doorkeeper.
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Then I setbefore the men of the house of the Rechabitespitchersfull of wine and cups; and I said to them, "6Drinkwine!"
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But they said, "We will not drinkwine, for 7Jonadab the son of 8Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, 'You shall 9not drinkwine, you or your sons, forever*.
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'You shall not build a house, and you shall not sowseed and you shall not plant a vineyard or own one; but in 10tents you shall dwellall your days, that you may live11manydays in the landwhere* you 12sojourn.'
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"We have 13obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, not to drinkwineall our days, we, our wives, our sons or our daughters,
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nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; and we 14do not havevineyard or field or seed.
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"We have only 15dwelt in tents, and have obeyed and have done according to all that 16Jonadab our fathercommanded us.
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"But when 17Nebuchadnezzarking of Babyloncame up against the land, we said, 'Come and let us 18go to Jerusalembefore* the army of the Chaldeans and before* the army of the Arameans.' So we have dwelt in Jerusalem."
Judah Rebuked
12 Then the word of the LORDcame to Jeremiah, saying,
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"Thussays the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Go and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, "19Will you not receiveinstruction by listening to My words?" declares the LORD.
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"The 20words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons not to drinkwine, are observed. So they do not drink wine to thisday, for they have obeyed their father'scommand. But I have spoken to you 21again and again; yet you have 22not listened to Me.
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"Also I have sent to you all My 23servants the prophets, sending them again and again, saying: '24Turnnoweveryman from his evilway and amend your deeds, and 25do not goafterothergods to worship them. Then you will 26dwell in the landwhich I have given to you and to your forefathers; but you have not 27inclined your ear or listened to Me.
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'Indeed, the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have 28observed the command of their fatherwhich he commanded them, but thispeople has not listened to Me.' "'
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"Thereforethussays the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Behold, 29I am bringing on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalemall the disaster that I have pronouncedagainst them; because I 30spoke to them but they did not listen, and I have called them but they did not answer.' "
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Then Jeremiahsaid to the house of the Rechabites, "Thussays the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Because* you have 31obeyed the command of Jonadab your father, keptall his commands and done according to all that he commanded you;
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thereforethussays the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Jonadab the son of Rechab32shall not lack a man to 33standbefore Me always*.""'