Jeremiah 35:12-19

Judah Rebuked

12 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,

13 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Go and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, "¹Will you not receive instruction by listening to My words?" declares the LORD.

14 "The ²words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are observed. So they do not drink wine to this day, for they have obeyed their father's command. But I have spoken to you ³again and again; yet you have ⁴not listened to Me.

15 "Also I have sent to you all My ⁵servants the prophets, sending them again and again, saying: '⁶Turn now every man from his evil way and amend your deeds, and ⁷do not go after other gods to worship them. Then you will ⁸dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your forefathers; but you have not ⁹inclined your ear or listened to Me.

16 'Indeed, the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have ¹⁰observed the command of their father which he commanded them, but this people has not listened to Me.' "'

17 "Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Behold, ¹¹I am bringing on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them; because I ¹²spoke to them but they did not listen, and I have called them but they did not answer.' "

18 Then Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Because * you have ¹³obeyed the command of Jonadab your father, kept all his commands and done according to all that he commanded you;

19 therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Jonadab the son of Rechab ¹⁴shall not lack a man to ¹⁵stand before Me always *.""'

Jeremiah 35:12-19 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.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 28:9-12; Jeremiah 5:3; Jeremiah 6:8-10; Jeremiah 32:33
• 2. Jeremiah 35:6-10
• 3. 2 Chronicles 36:15; Jeremiah 7:13, 25; Jeremiah 11:7; Jeremiah 25:3, 4
• 4. Isaiah 30:9; Isaiah 50:2
• 5. Jeremiah 7:25; Jeremiah 25:4; Jeremiah 26:5; Jeremiah 29:19; Jeremiah 32:33
• 6. Isaiah 1:16, 17; Jeremiah 4:1; Jeremiah 18:11; Jeremiah 25:5; Ezekiel 18:30-32; Acts 26:20
• 7. Deuteronomy 6:14; Jeremiah 7:6; Jeremiah 13:10; Jeremiah 25:6
• 8. Jeremiah 7:7; Jeremiah 25:5, 6
• 9. Jeremiah 7:24, 26; Jeremiah 11:8; Jeremiah 17:23; Jeremiah 34:14
• 10. Jeremiah 35:14; Malachi 1:6
• 11. Joshua 23:15; Jeremiah 19:3, 15; Jeremiah 21:4-10; Micah 3:12
• 12. Proverbs 1:24, 25; Isaiah 65:12; Isaiah 66:4; Jer 7:13, 26, 27; Jeremiah 26:5; Luke 13:34, 35; Romans 10:21
• 13. Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1-3
• 14. 1 Chronicles 2:55; Jeremiah 33:17
• 15. Jeremiah 15:19; Luke 21:36

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "rising early and speaking"
• [b]. Lit "rising early and speaking"
• [c]. Lit "all the days"