Jeremiah 35

CHAPTER 35

The Recabites (35:1–19)

1–5 The purpose of this chapter¹⁰⁷ is to contrast the faithfulness of a single family of nomads, the Recabites, with the continuing unfaithfulness of the people of Judah. The Recabites had faithfully followed certain rules laid down by their ancestor Jonadab more than two centuries earlier, one of which was to drink no wine (verse 6). Here the Lord instructs Jeremiah to test the obedience of the present generation of Recabites by offering them wine to drink (verses 2–5).

6–11 The Recabites refused the wine; they cited the rules given by Jonadab,¹⁰⁸ which they had always obeyed (verses 610). Jeremiah does not comment on whether the rules were good or bad in themselves; his concern is to emphasize the Recabites’ faithfulness to their ancestor. Jonadab had said that if his descendants obeyed his rules, they would live a long time in the land (verse 7); this echoes the promise given in Exodus 20:12 to children who honor their parents.

12–16 In these verses the Lord commends the Recabites’ faithfulness to their ancestor; at the same time, He condemns the unfaithfulness of the people of Judah. The ancestor Jonadab had spoken once, and his descendants had obeyed; the Lord had spoken again and again, and still His people disobeyed (verse 14).

17–19 God once again pronounces judgment on Judah. But on the Recabites, God pronounces a blessing: “Jonadab . . . will never fail to have a man to serve me” (verse 19). This was like the promise given to David (Jeremiah 33:17), a promise of family continuity. The Recabites were now to enjoy the promise given to the kings of Judah—at a time when those same kings were in danger of extinction!