Jeremiah 35:1-6

The Rechabites' Example

1 [This is] the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of Jehoiakim^[a] son of Josiah, king of Judah:

2 "Go to the house of the Rechabites, speak to them, and bring them to one of the chambers of the temple of the Lord to offer them a drink of wine."

3 So I took Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons-the entire house of the Rechabites-

4 and I brought them into the temple of the Lord to a chamber [occupied by] the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah, a man of God, who had a chamber near the officials' chamber, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper.

5 I set jars filled with wine and some cups before the sons of the house of the Rechabites and said to them, "Drink wine!"

6 But they replied, "We do not drink wine, for Jonadab,^[b] son of our ancestor Rechab, commanded: 'You and your sons must never drink wine.

Jeremiah 35:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 35

In this chapter the disobedience of the people of the Jews unto God is aggravated by the obedience of the Rechabites to their father; and the one are threatened with the judgments of God upon them, and the other have a promise of the divine blessing. The time of this prophecy is observed; Jer 35:1; an order to bring the Rechabites into one of the chambers of the temple, which was done accordingly, Jer 35:2-4; wine is set before them to drink; which they refuse; alleging the command of their father to the contrary, Jer 35:5-7; which they had carefully and constantly obeyed in every part of it, excepting that which respects their dwelling in tents; for which they give a reason, Jer 35:8-11; by this instance of filial obedience to parents, the disobedience of the Jews towards their Father, which is in heaven, is aggravated; who, though he gave them laws and commandments, and sent his prophets to put them in mind of them, and exhort them to obedience, yet hearkened not to them, Jer 35:12-15; wherefore the Lord threatens to bring all the evil on them he had pronounced, Jer 35:16,17; and promises the sons of Rechab that there should be always some of them that should minister unto him, Jer 35:18,19.

Footnotes

• [a]. 2 Kg 23:34-24:19; 2 Ch 36:4-8
• [b]. 2 Kg 10:15,23