Jeremiah 35:6-10

6 But they said, "We will not drink wine, for 1Jonadab the son of 2Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, 'You shall 3not drink wine, you or your sons, forever *.
7 'You shall not build a house, and you shall not sow seed and you shall not plant a vineyard or own one; but in 4tents you shall dwell all your days, that you may live 5many days in the land where * you 6sojourn.'
8 "We have 7obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, not to drink wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons or our daughters,
9 nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; and we 8do not have vineyard or field or seed.
10 "We have only 9dwelt in tents, and have obeyed and have done according to all that 10Jonadab our father commanded us.

Jeremiah 35:6-10 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 10

  • 1. 2 Kings 10:15, 23
  • 2. 1 Chronicles 2:55
  • 3. Leviticus 10:9; Numbers 6:2-4; Judges 13:7, 14; Luke 1:15
  • 4. Genesis 25:27; Hebrews 11:9
  • 5. Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:2, 3
  • 6. Genesis 36:7
  • 7. Proverbs 1:8, 9; Proverbs 4:1, 2, 10; Proverbs 6:20; Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20
  • 8. Psalms 37:16; Jeremiah 35:7; 1 Timothy 6:6
  • 9. Jeremiah 35:7
  • 10. Jeremiah 35:6
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