Jeremiah 35:10-19

10 but we have lived in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Yehonadav our father commanded us.

11 But it happened, when Nevukhadretztzar king of Bavel came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Yerushalayim for fear of the army of the Kasdim, and for fear of the army of the Aram; so we dwell at Yerushalayim.

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

13 Thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Yisra'el: Go, and tell the men of Yehudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, Will you not receive instruction to listen to my words? says the LORD.

14 The words of Yehonadav the son of Rechav, that he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; and to this day they drink none, for they obey their father's mitzvah: but I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking; and you have not listened to me.

15 I have sent also to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return you now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and don't go after other gods to serve them, and you shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but you have not inclined your ear, nor listened to me.

16 Because the sons of Yehonadav the son of Rechav have performed the mitzvah of their father which he commanded them, but this people has not listened to me;

17 therefore thus says the LORD, the God Tzva'ot,, the God of Yisra'el: Behold, I will bring on Yehudah and on all the inhabitants of Yerushalayim all the evil that I have pronounced against them; because I have spoken to them, but they have not heard; and I have called to them, but they have not answered.

18 Yirmeyahu said to the house of the Rechavim, Thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Yisra'el: Because you have obeyed the mitzvah of Yehonadav your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according to all that he commanded you;

19 therefore thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Yisra'el: Yehonadav the son of Rechav shall not want a man to stand before me forever.

Jeremiah 35:10-19 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.