1By the obedience of the Rechabites to their father's command 12the disobedience of the Jews to God's commands is condemned. 18God blesseth the Rechabites.
1THE word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of 1Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
1 See Jer. 1:3; 21:1; 25:1; 26:1; 27:1, 12; 28:1; 32:1. By comparing these places it appears that in the gathering of these prophecies together there is not always respect had to the order of time. Compare Jer. 45 on verse 1; Ezek. 30 on verse 20.
2Go unto the 2house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the 3chambers, and 4give them wine to drink.
2 That is, to the family or the generation of the Rechabites, so mentioned in verse 3. See of them 1 Chron. 2 on verse 55.
3 Which were by the temple. See 1 Kings 6 on verse 5.
4 That is, present, offer, pour them, etc.
3Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;
4And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a 5man of God, 6which was by the chamber of the 7princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door:
5 That is, prophet. See Deut. 33 on verse 1; Judges 13 on verse 6. These circumstances served to bring the more credit and respect to the matter among the obstinate Jews.
6 Namely, chamber.
7 Or, chief ones, that is, rulers; understand of the temple or sanctuary (see Isa. 43:28); as there were the heads of the priests and the Levites, and principally the high priest and the next one to him, Such Hebrew words are used for ecclesiastical and political functions. Compare Jer. 20 on verse 1; 29:26. Likewise Gen. 41 on verse 45; Num. 3:32; 1 Cor. 12:28, etc.
5And I set 8before the sons of the house of the Rechabites 9pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine.
8 Hebr. before the face of the, etc., as Gen. 18:8, etc.
9 Or, bowls. The Hebrew word agrees almost with another word, which signifies an hill, and may therefore signify a raised cup, bowl, or beaker, etc. See Gen. 44 on verse 2. The following word signifies also beakers, or such drinking vessels, whose difference is now uncertain.
6But they said, We 10will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our 11father 12commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons 13for ever:
10 That is, may or must drink no wine.
11 That is, forefather. Forasmuch as many conceive that this Jonadab, here mentioned, is the same that is mentioned in 2 Kings 10:15, 23; having been a very godly, honorable and able personage, so that Jehu also desired to strengthen himself in his zeal, and in his new estate by the company and presence of this man. This Jonadab, according to the opinion of some, wisely considering his pedigree and the corruptions that were ripe and common in those times, peradventure also foreseeing by a prophetical spirit the future judgments and desolations, would teach and instruct his posterity by these particular and special commands, that they, being content with this mercy, that they were admitted into the fellowship of God and His church, would for the time to come demean themselves so restrained, humble and lowly, that (like strangers in Israel, descended from Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law) they might not be distasteful or offensive unto the Israelites, as strangers are wont soon to give offence, also that they should beware, that through covetousness, or pleasure and delight they might not be corrupted and punished with others, or by possessing of goods and inheritances, fall not into trust and confidence in temporal riches, and so be hindered in time of exile, spoiling of goods, etc. What God further aimed at by this example of the Rechabites, appears by this entire transaction, which Jeremiah, by command from Him, had with them.
12 Or, forbade us. See Lev. 4 on verse 2.
13 That is, never. Compare 1 Cor. 8:13.
7Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor 14have any: but all 15your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live 16many days 17in the land where ye be strangers.
14 That is, possess.
15 That is, the days of your life. Also in the next verse.
16 That is, a long time.
17 Hebr. upon the face of the land.
8Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;
9Nor to build houses for us 18to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:
18 Or, for our abode.
10But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.
1119But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we 20said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem 21for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the 22Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem.
19 In this verse they give a reason why in this one thing (namely, that they now did not dwell in tents, but lived in the city of Jerusalem) they at present did not follow their father’s charge, showing thereby that it was a human ordinance, which in time of need and as occasion required, they might, without breach of duty, very well wave, that they might not transgress the law of God; this was also Jonadab’s intention, and was pleasing and acceptable unto God.
20 Namely. to each other.
21 Hebr. from or before the face, that is, to escape them for fear of their violence and tyranny.
22 Hebr. Aram. See Gen. 10 on verse 22.
12¶Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,
13Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the 23men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not 24receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD.
23 Hebr. man. See Jer. 4 on verse 3.
24 As Jer. 32:33.
14The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, 25are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but 26obey their father's commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, 27rising earlya and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me.
25 Hebr. is confirmed, that is, every one of his words is performed or kept notwithstanding that they through necessity had now done otherwise in one particular point, wherein they were to be excused. Also verse 16. Compare further verse 18 and Deut. 27 on verse 26. Likewise Jer. 34:18; 44:25.
26 Or, hearkened to, that is, obeyed.
27 See 2 Chron. 36 on verse 15; Jer. 7 on verse 3.
a Jer. 11:7; 25:3; 26:5; 29:19; 32:33.
15I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Returnb ye now every man from his evil 28way, and 29amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, 30and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.
b Jer. 18:11; 25:5.
28 See Gen. 6 on verse 12.
29 See Jer. 7 on verse 13.
30 Hebr. and remain or dwell in the land, that is, so shall ye surely remain dwelling in it. See Psalm 37 on verse 3.
16Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have 31performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me:
31 See verse 14.
17Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the 32evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.
32 Of punishment.
18¶And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you:
19Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall 33not want a man to 34stand before me 35for ever.
33 Compare the manner of speech with Jer. 33:17.
34 That is, unto whom I will show this mercy, that he shall have a place in My house, that is, among My people or in My church, and minister unto Me according to My word. The phrase seems to be taken from the priests and the Levites, who stood in the tabernacle and the temple to minister before the Lord, and consequently in general of servants and handmaids, who were to be continually about, and in the sight of their masters, to wait upon them. See Deut. 1 on verse 38; Deut. 10 on verse 8; 1 Kings 1 on verse 2. Some understand this plainly of the preservation and continuation of this family of the Rechabites amongst Israel, as long as the Jewish government would continue, by comparison with verse 7. It cannot be understood of the priestly or Levitical state, because they were not of the tribe of Levi, yea, even no Israelites, but strangers, as is related above, and of Gentiles’ descent, wherefore they are observed by some as a type of the calling of the Gentiles and as a spiritual priesthood by faith.
35 As Jer. 33:18.