Chapter 35
The Rechabites’ commandment
Lecture 1
The Rechabites’ fidelity
35:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, the king of Judah, saying:
35:2 go to the house of the Rechabites, and speak to them, and bring them into the house of the Lord , into one of the treasure chambers, and you shall give them wine to drink.
35:3 And I took Jaazaniah, the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazzinaiah, and his brothers, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites,
35:4 and I brought them into the house of the Lord to the treasury of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which was near the treasury of the princes, above the treasure of Maaseiah, the son of Shallum, who was the keeper of the vestibule.
35:5 And I set goblets and cups full of wine before the sons of the house of the Rechabites, and I said to them, ‘Drink wine.’
35:6 But they responded, ‘We shall not drink wine, because Jonadab, the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall not drink wine, you and your children, forever.
35:7 And you shall not build a house, nor sow seed, neither shall you plant vineyards, nor have them; but you shall dwell in tents all your days, that you may live many days upon the face of the earth in which you sojourn.’
35:8 We have obeyed, therefore, the voice of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, our father, in everything which he commanded us, that we should not drink wine all our days, we and our wives, our sons, and our daughters,
35:9 and that we should not build houses to dwell therein; and we have not had vineyard, field, or seed.
35:10 But we have dwelt in tents, and were obedient to all which Jonadab our father commanded us.
35:11 But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to our land, we said, ‘Come, and let us enter into Jerusalem from the face of the army of the Chaldeans, and from the face of the army of Syria.’ And we have dwelt in Jerusalem.
187 . Here, he convicts them of their transgression by the example of certain obedient men.
First is given the trial of their obedience;
second is given the condemnation of disobedience, at and the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah (Jer 35:12).
Concerning the former, there are three points.
First, the command to test them is given by the Lord to the prophet: go to the house of the Rechabites , who were given to the study of Scripture and therefore abstained from wine, concerning whom we read: the family of scribes dwelling in Jabez, singing and making melody, who dwell in tents. These are the Kennites, who came of Calor, father of the house of Rechab (1 Chron 2:55). Chamber —something like a room outside the main building. You shall give , proving their obedience. Above: I have set you as an assayer over my people; and you shall know, and prove their way (Jer 6:27).
And I took and brought them into the house of the Lord to the treasury ( gazophylacium ), in which the riches of the temple were kept; in Greek, Gaza means “riches,” and phylaxa means “keeping.” Maaseiah , who received this ministry in the time of David (1 Chron 24:3–18); of the vestibule , the atrium. Because the house in front of the principle chamber, where clothing ( vestes ) is kept, is called the vestibule, it became the custom to call every atrium a vestibule.
Cups , for water. Drink wine , that he might make a trial of the mysteries. Eat my bread, and drink the wine which I have mixed for you (Prov 9:5).
Third, their declaration of obedience is given: but they responded .
First is mentioned the paternal command of not drinking wine: you shall not drink . I thought to draw my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind to wisdom (Eccl 2:3).
And of poverty, lest by concern for temporal things, they should interrupt the study of wisdom. And you shall not build a house . As possessing nothing, and having all things (2 Cor 6:10).
Second is mentioned their fulfilment: we have obeyed, therefore . My son do not forget my law, and let your heart keep my commandments (Prov 3:1).
In tents . They pitched their tents in deserted places (Wis 11:2).
Third, the necessary transgression is excused: but when Nebuchadnezzar came up .
Lecture 2
Comparison to Rechabites
35:12 And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying:
35:13 thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: go and speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: will you not accept correction that you may obey my words? says the Lord .
35:14 The words of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons, that they should not drink wine, have prevailed, and they do not drink unto this day, because they obey the command of their father; but I have spoken unto you, arising early and speaking, and you have not obeyed me.
35:15 I have sent all my servants the prophets unto you, rising early and sending them, saying: let each one turn from his wicked way, and make your doings good; and do not follow after strange gods, neither worship them, and you shall dwell in the land which I gave to you and to your fathers. And you did not incline your ear, neither did you hearken unto me.
35:16 Therefore, the sons of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them. But this people has not obeyed me.
35:17 Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: behold, I shall bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil which I have spoken against them, because I have spoken unto them, and they did not listen; I have called them, and they have not answered me.
35:18 But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said: thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and have kept all his commandments, and have done all that he commanded you,
35:19 therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: there shall not want a man of the line of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, to stand before me all days.
188 . Here, the condemnation of their disobedience is given.
First, diverse merits are compared, when his astonishment at their disobedience is spoken of: will you not accept correction , even by scourgings and examples? Above: in vain have I struck your children; they have not received correction (Jer 2:30).
The reason for his astonishment is also given: the words have prevailed ; it is as though he were saying, “The words of a carnal father have had greater efficacy than the words of a spiritual father.” We indeed have had fathers of our flesh for instructors, and we reverenced them; shall we not much more obey the Father of spirits and live? (Heb 12:9). And the proof of the comparison—for while the former obeyed, the latter did not obey: but I have spoken unto you . Above: I have spoken to you rising early and speaking, but you did not listen; I called you, and you did not respond (Jer 7:13).
Second, various rewards are promised.
First, he promises punishment to those who disobey: therefore, thus says the Lord . For I called and you refused; I stretched out my hand and no man regarded; you have despised all my counsel, and would have none of my reproofs; I also shall laugh at your destruction, and mock when what you fear comes (Prov 1:24–26).
Second, mercy for those who obey: but to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said . Obedience is better than sacrifices, and to hearken is better than to offer the fat of rams (1 Sam 15:22).