But it came to pass, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and 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.
11. Syrians ] allies of the Chaldaeans at this period. See 2Ki 24:2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The Syrians – The Septuagint substitutes Assyrians for Syrians, but marauding bands of the Aramaeans are probably meant.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. But – when Nebuchadnezzar – came up] If at present we appear to be acting contrary in any respect to our institutions, in being found in the city, necessity alone has induced us to take this temporary step. We have sought the shelter of the city for the preservation of our lives; so now we dwell at Jerusalem.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
When the Chaldean army came into the land, they saw there would be no quiet abode for them any where but in some fortified place. The Syrians joined with the Chaldeans in this war, as we read, 2Ki 24:2. This they tell the prophet was the reason why they, who never used to dwell in cities nor fixed houses, came to dwell at Jerusalem, to prevent being destroyed by the foragers for these armies.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. Chaldeans . . . SyrianswhenJehoiakim revolted from Nebuchadnezzar (2Ki 24:1;2Ki 24:2). Necessity sets asideall other laws. This is the Rechabites’ excuse for their seemingdisobedience to Jonadab in temporarily settling in a city. Herein wasseen the prescient wisdom of Jonadab’s commands; they could at amoment’s notice migrate, having no land possessions to tie them.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land,…. Into the land of Judea to invade it, which was in the reign of Jehoiakim, in the fourth year of it, after he had served him three years, and rebelled against him;
[See comments on Jer 35:1];
that we said, come, and let us go to Jerusalem; they said one to another, let us not stay here to be destroyed by a foreign enemy; but let us go to Jerusalem, a fortified city, where we may be safe:
for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians; for Nebuchadnezzar’s army in this expedition consisted of Chaldeans and Syrians, and of other nations, 2Ki 24:2;
so we dwell at Jerusalem; for the present. It seems as though this was quickly after Nebuchadnezzar’s incursion, and when he was but just departed; so that their fears had not wholly subsided; and they, as yet, had not returned to their tents, and former manner of living: hence it appears that the Rechabites did not look upon this command of their father as equal to a divine precept, which must be always obeyed; but that in case of necessity it might be dispensed with, and especially when in danger of life, and when human prudence required it; and in which case the lawgiver himself would have dispensed with it, had he been on the spot.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
It hence appears that it proved advantageous to the Rechabites to observe what their father had commanded them: for had they been fixed to their possessions, they must have been driven into exile with the rest when the kingdom of Israel was destroyed; what happened to the ten tribes nmst have happened to the Rechabites. But as they had nothing as their own, they were freer to move elsewhere; nor had they the trial of leaving possessions, for they had none. We know that many are so tied to their own houses, fields, vineyards, and meadows, that they would rather be killed a hundred times than to be torn away from them. Then Jenadab consulted well the benefit of his posterity, when he ordered them to dwell in tents; for thus they could collect together in one day all that they had, according to the known saying of Bias. Hence poverty was a great advantage to them: their austerity of life was also a benefit to them; they could without difficulty dwell at Jerusalem, for they had no need of many luxuries. Had they been accustomed to wine and to other delicacies, they might have discussed the point, whether it would have been better for them at once to die than to suffer want in a besieged city. Moreover, as they had lived frugally and had also been accustomed to an austere life, no anxiety prevented them to come with confidence to Jerusalem; for they thought that they could gain a sparing and sordid subsistence by their own labor.
It hence then appears what Jenadab had in view, when he forbade his posterity the use of wine as well as the possession of fields and vineyards; for he could then foresee what dreadful revolutions were at hand. It was therefore his purpose thus to train up his posterity, that when difficulties came they might not succumb under the burden, but patiently bear want or any other inconvenience, which to others would be intolerable, whenever their former delicacies came to mind. We they said, Come, and let us enter into Jerusalem from the face of both armies. When therefore the Israelites were detained by their fields and domestic possessions, the Rechabites went to Jerusalem, and thus were freed from danger. It now follows, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(11) When Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land . . .The statement has the character of an apologetic explanation. They had been driven, as the peasants of Judaea had been (Jer. 4:6; Jer. 8:14), to take refuge from the invading armies, probably in the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar in the eighth year of Jehoiakim (2Ki. 24:1-2), bringing their flocks and their herds, as far as they could, with them, but this was only a temporary casualty, and they intended, when the danger was over, to return to their former mode of life. The Syrians are joined with the Chaldees in the invasion, as in 2Ki. 24:2.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Army of the Syrians In the earlier times the Syrians were their great danger; and even now the greater army of the Chaldeans included the lesser of the Syrians.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 35:11 But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and 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.
Ver. 11. Come, and let us go to Jerusalem. ] So then it was lawful for them to dispense with those their observances, in that inevitable necessity; like as also they might have drunk wine rather than have perished. But what can be reasonably pleaded for that man of sin, who taketh upon him to dispense with God’s holy law, and de iniustitia facere iustitiam, ex nihilo aliquid, ex virtute vitium, a to make righteousness of unrighteousness, vice of virtue, something of nothing?
So we dwell at Jerusalem.
a Bellarm., De Pontif. Rom, lib. iv.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
When, &c. They explain why they did not carry out the latter part of their vow (Jer 35:7).
Syrians. This is the only place where they are mentioned with the Chaldeans. They had been made subject to Assyria long before; (Isa 9:12). After the fall of Nineveh they came under the yoke of Babylon.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
when: 2Ki 24:2, Dan 1:1, Dan 1:2
Come: Jer 4:5-7, Jer 8:14, Mar 13:14, Luk 21:20, Luk 21:21
Reciprocal: Isa 9:12 – Syrians
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 35:11. This verse explains why the Rechabites were living at Jerusalem at this time. They had been living in other parts of Palestine, and, while friendly toward the full-blooded Israelites, and favorable to the doc-trine of only one true God, they maintained a tribal independence.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
35:11 But it came to pass, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we {h} dwell at Jerusalem.
(h) Which declares that they were not so bound to their vow that it could not be broken for any need, for where they were commanded to dwell in tents, they dwell now at Jerusalem for fear of the wars.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The only time they lived in a city was when Nebuchadnezzar’s vassals invaded the Judean countryside. Then they moved into the city for protection out of necessity, for survival, not because they had abandoned their principles. Jerusalem was not under siege at this time, but the surrounding countryside was being invaded.