Jeremiah and the Recabites (Jeremiah 35:1–19)
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I. Jeremiah’s Test of the Recabites’ Loyalty (35:1–5)
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, 2 “Go to the house of the Rechabites, speak to them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.”3 Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, his brothers and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites, 4 and I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door. 5 Then I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of wine, and cups; and I said to them, “Drink wine.”
A. The Lord instructed Jeremiah to go to the “Recabite family.”
The Recabites were of Kenite descent, a seminomadic clan that was associated with Israel’s ancestors during the exodus from Egypt.
The current generation of Recabites were descendants of Jonadab, the son of Recab. Jonadab joined Jehu on his chariot in the bloody purge of the house of Omri (2 Kgs 10:15–27).
B. The Lord told Jeremiah to “bring them” to one of the chambers in the temple.
Jeremiah went to get Jaazaniah, probably the leader of the Recabites who had taken refuge in the city. He is identified as the son of Jeremiah (not to be confused with the prophet Jeremiah), son of Habazziniah. Jeremiah invited the entire “family” of Recabites into the temple. There he took them into the room of the sons of Hanan, son of Igdaliah, which was next to the room of the temple officials.
Jeremiah set before the men of the Recabite family large bowls of wine from which cups were filled. He then commanded the Recabites to drink the wine. It was a tempting opportunity for the Recabites to break the command of their ancestor if they had been so inclined.
II. Refusal to Break Jonadab’s Vow (35:6–11)
6 But they said, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever. 7 You shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, nor have any of these; but all your days you shall dwell in tents, that you may live many days in the land where you are sojourners.’ 8 Thus we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters, 9 nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; nor do we have vineyard, field, or seed. 10 But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us. 11 But it came to pass, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, ‘Come, let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans and for fear of the army of the Syrians.’ So we dwell at Jerusalem.”
A. The men informed Jeremiah that they did not drink wine because their “forefather”.
No explanation is given for Jonadab’s command, but the life-style described in v. 7 is that of a nomadic people. Perhaps Jonadab became repulsed and disillusioned by the corruption and immorality he saw in city life and determined to separate himself and his family from its evil influences.
They were never to build houses, sow seed, plant vineyards and had to live in tents always”. The life-style he prescribed for his descendants was that of a nomadic shepherd, who had no permanent dwelling place and could move at any time as Israel had done during the desert wanderings.
B. They explained to Jeremiah what appeared to be an inconsistency with their vow.
They were now living in houses in Jerusalem. They were there because of Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion of the land. They had only entered Jerusalem for protection from the Babylonian and Aramean armies.
The Arameans, or Syrians, were allies of the Babylonians at that time and participated in the invasion of Judah during Jehoiakim’s reign. Though not stated, it is certain the Recabites planned to leave Jerusalem as soon as the danger had passed.
III. The Lesson for Judah (35:12–17)
12 Then came the word of the LORD to Jeremiah, saying, 13 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction to obey My words?” says the LORD. 14 “The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; for to this day they drink none, and obey their father’s commandment. But although I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, you did not obey Me. 15 I have also sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Turn now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them; then you will dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear, nor obeyed Me. 16 Surely the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them, but this people has not obeyed Me.” ’17 “Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the doom 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.’ ”
A. While Jeremiah was still with the Recabites, again the word of the Lord “came to Jeremiah.”
The Lord instructed Jeremiah to go to the people of Jerusalem to confront them with the lesson they needed to learn from the Recabites. Their example should have shamed Judah to obey the Lord. The Lord was not necessarily commending the nomadic life-style of the Recabites, but he did commend their obedience to the commands of a dead ancestor not to drink wine.
By contrast the Lord had spoken to his people “again and again”, but they did not obey him. Sometimes secular loyalties to some cause or person put to shame the loyalty of God’s people to Him and His commands.
B. Jonadab had spoken his command long ago, and his descendants obeyed him.
The Lord sent the prophets to his people “again and again.” Those prophets had faithfully communicated God’s warnings that the people must turn from their wicked ways and repent of their actions and not serve other gods.
If they would obey Him, He promised that they would remain in the land he had given them and their ancestors. But their history proved they had “not paid attention” (lit. “incline your ear”) to the Lord. The contrast between the Recabites’ obedience and Judah’s disobedience was painfully apparent. Obedience to the Lord’s commands is not a problem unique to the Hebrews.
Because of their continued disobedience, the Lord announced that He was going to bring on them “every disaster” He had already pronounced against them. They were like a disobedient child who refuses to answer when the parent calls.
IV. Commendation of the Recabites (35:18–19)
18 And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab 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 Israel: “Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever.” ’ ”
A. Jeremiah then spoke to the Recabites and commended them for their obedience to their ancestor’s command.
Because of their faithfulness, the Lord pronounced a blessing on them through Jeremiah. He promised they would “lack a man to stand before Me forever” Stand before me” is an expression that can mean to stand before someone with an attitude of service. It is found over one hundred times in the OT and is used of prophets, priests, and kings.
The blessing to the Recabites does not imply that they would assume a priestly role, although there is a later tradition in Judaism that they did become involved in the service of the temple. Here the blessing is a promise that they would not be destroyed as a family. Nehemiah 3:14 mentions a descendant of Recab approximately 150 years later who was faithfully serving the Lord.
B. The example of the Recabites served as a searing rebuke to the people of Judah, though they failed to be convicted by it.
It is quite remarkable that anyone would keep a vow made by an ancestor hundreds of years earlier or consider it still binding on the descendants. It is equally remarkable that anyone who enters into a covenant relationship with God through the new covenant today would be inclined to a life of disobedience.
The commendation of the Recabites for their faithfulness and the warning to Judah for its unfaithfulness contain a valid lesson for the present generation.