Jeremias 35:4-14

4 and Jechonias, and the captivity of Juda: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.

5 Then Jeremias spoke to Ananias in the sight of all the people, and in the sight of the priests that stood in the house of the Lord,

6 and Jeremias said, May the Lord indeed do thus; may he confirm thy word which thou dost prophesy, to return the vessels of the house of the Lord, and all the captivity, out of Babylon to this place.

7 Nevertheless hear ye the word of the Lord which I speak in your ears, and in the ears of all the people.

8 The prophets that were before me and before you of old, also prophesied over much country, and against great kingdoms, concerning war.

9 the prophet that has prophesied for peace, when the word has come , they shall know the prophet whom the Lord has sent them in truth.

10 Then Ananias took the yokes from the neck of Jeremias in the sight of all the people, and broke them to pieces.

11 And Ananias spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus said the Lord; Thus will I break the yoke of the king of Babylon from the necks of all the nations. And Jeremias went his way.

12 And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, after that Ananias had broken the yokes off his neck, saying,

13 Go and speak to Ananias, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but I will make instead of them yokes of iron.

14 For thus said the Lord, I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all the nations, that they may serve the king of Babylon.

Jeremias 35:4-14 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.