Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:
Nor build houses for us to dwell in,…. This explains that part of the charge more fully, which respects building of houses; which did not restrain them from building houses for others, if any of them were masters of that art; which is not very likely, since they were wholly brought up in the field as shepherds; but it forbad them building any for themselves, and making use of them by dwelling in them:
neither have we vineyard, nor field, or seed; any piece of ground planted with vines, or field sown with corn, or any seed to sow with; so exactly conformable were they to the prescriptions of their ancestor. Diodorus Siculus g reports of the Nabatheans, a people of Arabia, descended from Nebaioth, see Isa 60:7; that they have several laws which are much the same with those enjoined the Rechabites; for he says,
“it is a law with them not to sow corn, nor to plant any plant that bears fruit, nor to make use of wine, nor to build houses; and whosoever is found doing any of these things is, reckoned worthy of death; and the reason of their having such a law is, because they think that those who possess such things are easily compelled by men in power to do whatever is commanded them, for the sake of the enjoyment of them.”
g Bibliothec. l. 19. p. 730. Ed. Rhod.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
They added, that they were not to build houses, literally, to inhabit them, that is, to dwell in them. It was then lawful for the Rechabites to construct houses, that is, to build them for others; but they were to be contented with tents, and to live in them. They might then assist others in building splendid palaces, and thus by their labor gain a livelihood; but they were not allowed to inhabit them, as this was one of their precepts. They farther added, And a vineyard and a field and a seed we have not If we duly consider how hard was their condition, we shall see reason to commend the constancy of the Rechabites, for they were not frightened from their purpose when they saw that they were brought into miserable straits. But, however, we ought especially to attend to the object the Prophet had in view, even to shew how shameful was the perverseness of the Jews, who dared to despise and regard as nothing the precepts of God, when yet the authority of a mortal man, and one that was dead, was so great with his posterity. They then said, that they dwelt in tents, and did according to all the things which Jonadab their father had commanded them It follows —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Jer 35:9 Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:
Ver. 9. Nor to build houses, &c. ] Jonadab, being a prudent and withal a mortified man, might foresee that the Israelites, being so wicked a people, could not long continue. He knew also that wine was oft an occasion of drunkenness, trading in the world, of earthly mindedness; fair houses, of loathness to leave the world. Haec sunt quae nos invitos faciunt mori, as that emperor once said of stately buildings. He, therefore, for a quiet life, and for their souls’ health, forbade them the use of these lawful things, and they accordingly forbare them.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 35:7, Num 16:14, 2Ki 5:26, Psa 37:16, 1Ti 6:6
Reciprocal: Gen 4:20 – dwell