Yirmeyah 35

1 5 The Davar which came unto Yirmeyah from Hashem in the days of Y’hoyakim Ben Yoshiyah Melech Yehudah, saying,

2 Go unto the Bais of the Rechavim, and speak unto them, and bring them into the Beis Hashem, into one of the leshakhot (side rooms), and give them yayin to drink.

3 Then I took Ya’azanyah Ben Yirmeyah Ben Chavatzinyah, and his brethren, and all his banim, and kol Bais Rechavim;

4 And I brought them into the Beis Hashem, into the lishkah (room) of the Bnei Chanan Ben Yigdalyahu, an Ish HaElohim, which was by the lishkah of the sarim, which was above the lishkah of Ma’aseiyah Ben Shallum, the Shomer HaSaf (Gatekeeper);

5 And I set before the Bnei Bais Rechavim bowls full of yayin, and kosot (cups), and I said unto them, Drink ye yayin.

6 But they said, We will drink no yayin; for Yonadav Ben Rechav avinu commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no yayin, neither ye, nor your banim ad olam;

7 Neither shall ye build bais, nor sow zera, nor plant kerem (vineyard), nor have any; but all your days ye shall dwell in ohalim; that ye may live yamim rabbim in the adamah where ye are sojourners.

8 Thus have we obeyed the voice of Yonadav Ben Rechav avinu in all that he hath charged us, to drink no yayin kol yameinu (all our days), we, our nashim, our banim, nor our banot;

9 Nor to build batim for us to dwell in; neither have we kerem, nor sadeh, nor zera;

10 But we have dwelt in ohalim, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Yonadav avinu commanded us.

11 But it came to pass, when Nevuchadretzar Melech Bavel invaded ha’aretz, that we said, Come, and let us go to Yerushalayim because of the army of the Kasdim (Chaldeans), and because of the army of Aram (the Syrians); so we dwell in Yerushalayim.

12 Then came the Devar Hashem unto Yirmeyah, saying,

13 Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel: Go and tell the Ish Yehudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, Will ye not learn musar to pay heed to My devarim? saith Hashem.

14 The devarim of Yonadav Ben Rechav, that he commanded his banim not to drink yayin, has been carried out; for unto this day they drink none, but obey the mitzvat avihem; notwithstanding, I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye paid heed not unto Me.

15 I have sent also unto you all My avadim the Nevi’im, rising up early and sending them, saying, Turn ye now every ish from his derech hara’ah, and amend your doings, and go not after elohim acherim to serve them, and ye shall dwell in ha’adamah which I have given to you and to avoteichem; but ye have not inclined your ozen (ear), nor paid heed unto Me.

16 Indeed the Bnei Yonadav Ben Rechav have carried out the mitzvat avihem, which he commanded them; but this people hath not paid heed unto Me:

17 Therefore, thus saith Hashem Elohei Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel: Hineni, I will bring upon Yehudah and upon all the inhabitants of Yerushalayim all the ra’ah that I have pronounced against them; because I have spoken unto them, but they have not paid heed; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.

18 And Yirmeyah said unto the Bais Rechavim, Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel; Because ye have obeyed the mitzvat Yonadav avichem, and have been shomer over all his mitzvot, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you,

19 Therefore thus saith Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel: Yonadav Ben Rechav shall not lack an ish to stand before Me kol hayamim.

Yirmeyah 35 Commentary

Chapter 35

The obedience of the Rechabites. (1-11) The Jews' disobedience to the Lord. (12-19)

Verses 1-11 Jonadab was famous for wisdom and piety. He lived nearly ( 2 Kings. 10:15 ) to drink wine. He also appointed them to dwell in tents, or movable dwelling: this would teach them not to think of settling any where in this world. To keep low, would be the way to continue long in the land where they were strangers. Humility and contentment are always the best policy, and men's surest protection. Also, that they might not run into unlawful pleasures, they were to deny themselves even lawful delights. The consideration that we are strangers and pilgrims should oblige us to abstain from all fleshly lusts. Let them have little to lose, and then losing times would be the less dreadful: let them sit loose to what they had, and then they might with less pain be stript of it. Those are in the best frame to meet sufferings who live a life of self-denial, and who despise the vanities of the world. Jonadab's posterity observed these rules strictly, only using proper means for their safety in a time of general suffering.

Verses 12-19 The trial of the Rechabites' constancy was for a sign; it made the disobedience of the Jews to God the more marked. The Rechabites were obedient to one who was but a man like themselves, and Jonadab never did for his seed what God has done for his people. Mercy is promised to the Rechabites. We are not told respecting the performance of this promise; but doubtless it was performed, and travellers say the Rechabites may be found a separate people to this day. Let us follow the counsels of our pious forefathers, and we shall find good in so doing.

Chapter Summary

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.