Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,
12. unto Jeremiah ] LXX, better, unto me. It is more natural to retain the 1st person in accordance with the previous context, thus taking the proper name as a gloss.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
12 19. See introd. summary to the section. This portion, which forms the application of the preceding narrative, seems to have received considerable later additions. The LXX seem to present it in practically its original form.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah,…. After the Rechabites had been tried whether they would break the command of their father, respecting drinking of wine; and steadfastly persisted in their resolution not to drink, urging the reason of it, and vindicating their conduct in another respect:
saying; as follows:
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The example of the Rechabites is one for Judah. – Jeremiah is to proclaim the word of the Lord to the people of Judah, as follows: Jer 35:13. “Thus saith Jahveh of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction by listening to my words? saith Jahveh. Jer 35:14. The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, who commanded this sons not to drink wine, are performed, and they have drunk no wine to this day, but have obeyed the command of their father. But I have spoken unto you, rising up early and speaking, yet ye have not listened unto me. Jer 35:15. And I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Turn ye, now, every one from his evil way, and do good deeds, and do not go after other gods, to serve them; then shall ye dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers. But ye did not incline your ear, nor hearken unto me. Jer 35:16. Yea, the children of Jonadab the son of Rechab have observed the commandment of their father which he commanded them, while this people have not hearkened unto me. Jer 35:17. Therefore, thus saith Jahveh, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring upon Judah and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil which I have uttered regarding them, because I spake unto them and they did not hear, and I called unto them, but they did not answer. Jer 35:18. And to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said: Thus saith Jahveh of hosts, the God of Israel, Because ye have listened to the command of Jonadab your father, and have kept all his commandments, and have done according to all that he commanded you, Jer 35:19. Therefore, thus saith Jahveh of hosts, the God of Israel, Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.” The command, “Go and speak to the men of Judah,” etc., shows that it was not in the chamber of the temple, in presence of the Rechabites, but probably in one of the temple fore-courts, that Jeremiah addressed the following word of the Lord to the people assembled there. In order to shame the Jews thoroughly, he shows them the faithfulness with which the Rechabites observe the ordinances of their ancestor Jonadab. The character of the address, as one intended to rouse feelings of shame, is indicated even at the beginning of Jer 35:13: “Will ye not receive instruction by hearkening to the words of the Lord?” The Hoph. is construed as a passive with the accus.; in the older writers we frequently find this construction, in which the passive is used impersonally, hence the sing. is here employed: cf. Ges. 143, 1, Ew. 295, b. “To this day” – now for nearly 300 years without interruption; for Jonadab was already held in high esteem when Jehu ascended the throne, 883 b.c. (2Ki 10:15). Judah, on the contrary, does not listen to the commandments which his God unceasingly inculcates on him, but rather wanders after other gods, to serve them. On Jer 35:15 cf. Jer 25:4-5. stands for , Jer 25:5. – In Jer 35:16, where the introductory , imo, indicates a culmination, the idea is once more briefly expressed. Ngelsbach incorrectly renders “ because,” and makes Jer 35:16 the protasis to Jer 35:17. “Such a protasis with because ( quia), without any connection with what precedes, is contrary to the use of language” (Hitzig). On the threat of punishment in Jer 35:17, see Jer 11:11.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| Case of the Rechabites Applied. | B. C. 607. |
12 Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, 13 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD. 14 The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me. 15 I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and 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. 16 Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me: 17 Therefore 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 evil 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. 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: 19 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.
The trial of the Rechabites’ constancy was intended but for a sign; now here we have the application of it.
I. The Rechabites’ observance of their father’s charge to them is made use of as an aggravation of the disobedience of the Jews to God. Let them see it and be ashamed. The prophet asks them, in God’s name, “Will you not at length receive instruction? v. 13. Will nothing affect you? Will nothing fasten upon you? Will nothing prevail to discover sin and duty to you? You see how obedient the Rechabites are to their father’s commandment (v. 14); but you have not inclined your ear to me” (v. 15), though one might much more reasonably expect that the people of God should have obeyed him than that the sons of Jonadab should have obeyed him; and the aggravation is very high, for, 1. The Rechabites were obedient to one who was but a man like themselves, who had but the wisdom and power of a man, and was only the father of their flesh; but the Jews were disobedient to an infinite and eternal God, who had an absolute authority over them, as the Father of their spirits. 2. Jonadab was long since dead, and was ignorant of them, and could neither take cognizance of their disobedience to his orders nor give correction for it; but God lives for ever, to see how his laws are observed, and is in a readiness to revenge all disobedience. 3. The Rechabites were never put in mind of their obligations to their father; but God often sent his prophets to his people, to put them in mind of their duty to him, and yet they would not do it. This is insisted on here as a great aggravation of their disobedience: “I have myself spoken to you, rising early and speaking by the written word and the dictates and admonitions of conscience (v. 14); nay, I have sent unto you all my servants the prophets, men like yourselves, whose terrors shall not make you afraid, rising up early and sending them (v. 15), and yet all in vain.” 4. Jonadab never did that for his seed which God had done for his people. He left them a charge, but left them no estate to bear the charge; but God had given his people a good land, and promised them that, if they would be obedient, they should still dwell in it, so that they were bound both in gratitude and interest to be obedient, and yet they would not hear, they would not hearken. 5. God did not tie up his people to so much hardship, and to such instances of mortification, as Jonadab obliged his seed to; and yet Jonadab’s orders were obeyed and God’s were not.
II. Judgments are threatened, as often before, against Judah and Jerusalem, for their disobedience thus aggravated. The Rechabites shall rise up in judgment against them, and shall condemn them; for they very punctually performed the commandment of their father, and continued and persevered in their obedience to it (v. 16); but this people, this rebellious and gainsaying people, have not hearkened unto me; and therefore (v. 17), because they have not obeyed the precepts of the word, God will perform the threatenings of it: “I will bring upon them, by the Chaldean army, all the evil pronounced against them both in the law and in the prophets, for I have spoken to them, I have called to them–spoken in a still small voice to those that were near and called aloud to those that were at a distance, tried all ways and means to convince and reduce them–spoken by my word, called by my providence, both to the same purport, and yet all to no purpose; they have not heard nor answered.“
III. Mercy is here promised to the family of the Rechabites for their steady and unanimous adherence to the laws of their house. Though it was only for the shaming of Israel that their constancy was tried, yet, being unshaken, it was found unto praise, and honour, and glory; and God takes occasion from it to tell them that he had favours in reserve for them (Jer 35:18; Jer 35:19) and that they should have the comfort of them. 1. That the family shall continue as long as any of the families of Israel, among whom they were strangers and sojourners. it shall never want a man to inherit what they had, though they had no inheritance to leave. Note, Sometimes those that have the smallest estates have the most numerous progeny; but he that sends mouths will be sure to send meat. 2. That religion shall continue in the family: “He shall not want a man to stand before me, to serve me.” Though they are neither priests nor levites, nor appear to have had any post in the temple service, yet in a constant course of regular devotion, they stand before God, to minister to him. Note, (1.) The greatest blessing that can be entailed upon a family is to have the worship of God kept up in it from generation to generation. (2.) Temperance, self-denial, and mortification to the world, do very much befriend the exercises of piety, and help to transmit the observance of them to posterity. The more dead we are to the delights of sense the better we are disposed for the service of God; but nothing is more fatal to the entail of religion in a family than pride and luxury.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Vs. 12-19: COMMENDATION OF THE RECHABITE’S FIDELITY
1. Having tested and proved the fidelity of the Rechabites, God now directs Jeremiah to use their refusal to compromise their ideals as an object lesson for Judah, (vs. 12-13): “Will YOU not receive instruction to hearken to MY WORDS?” saith the Lord.
2. The Rechabites have faithfully obeyed the commandment of an EARTHLY father!
3. Judah’s HEAVENLY FATHER, her Lord and Maker, has also commanded her how to live! (vs. 14b-15).
a. Eagerly rising early, He has called her to walk in His ways; but Judah has not listened!
b. He has repeatedly sent faithful prophets to them:
1) Pleading with them to amend their ways and turn from their evil practices.
2) Warning them against the self-destructive folly of chasing after false deities, that they might bow themselves before NOTHING!
3) Reminding them of the promised blessing, of safe dwelling in their own land, if they would but OBEY GOD’S VOICE!
4. But Judah has stopped her ears and refused to listen! The words which, at Mt Sinai, they pledged themselves to obey, have long since been discarded and rejected, by them as an acceptable way of life, (vs. 16; comp. Deu 1:31; Isa 1:2; Jer 3:4; Mal 1:6).
5. Because of their disregard for His word, God is bringing upon Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the judgments of which He has persistently warned them through the prophets, (vs. 17; Jer 7:13-15; Jer 7:24-27; Jer 19:3; Jer 19:15; Jer 21:4-10; Pro 1:24-25; Isa 65:12; Isa 66:4; Luk 13:34-35; Rom 10:21).
6. Because the Rechabites have been faithful to the commands of their father, Jonadab, the Lord promises perpetual blessing upon them, (vs. 18-19; Exo 20:12; Eph 6:1-3; comp. Luk 21:34-36).
a. Their family will be divinely preserved – assuring that they will always have a posterity to serve Jehovah.
b. That there were survivors through the destruction of Jerusalem is evident from the later mention of a descendant in Neh 3:14.
A Lesson for Today
If one reads this lesson with seeing eyes, hearing ears and a heart open to instruction, he will surely recognize the folly of bowing to the tyranny of tradition – of being held in the iron grip of a dead past, when it is possible to hear, from the lips of the Most High, ever-fresh whispers of His will, direction and guidance toward triumphant living in the present. This tendency of men to yield themselves more readily to some command, or idea of the past, while refusing to hear and obey the ever-present and Living God is a persistent one. Such folly overlooks the fact that God, Who alone knows man (Psalms 139) and his varied circumstances, is ALWAYS AT HAND – immediately available if we but seek His will with a willing heart, (Joh 7:17).
Recognizing how deeply His beloved people were bowed in bondage to a dead past, Jesus deliberately, and consistently, set Himself to violate, repudiate and eradicate those traditions from their national life. While God was eagerly rising early – ready to whisper to His people the secret of the day, and to give direction for the mysteries of a life that they could not fully comprehend – they submitted the complexity, mystery, and majesty of life to the tradition of yesterday and would not listen to the voice of their Maker, Father, Lord and King! Yet, how desperately did they need to hear His voice, and to walk in fellowship with Him! (Joh 17:3).
It is feared that many Christians today respond far more quickly and obediently to the voice of tradition than to the voice of God -to human rules and regulations (made in a dead past), rather than to the living principles of God’s Word. Principles never change, but fresh applications of those principles are required by the changes of circumstances, time and place. Human rules, designed to regulate the. lives of posterity – even when found within the very body of Christ -are just as potentially destructive as were the traditions of ancient Israel!
Such a triumphantly great and fulfilling life as will challenge the ages is the life that is lived in constant fellowship with God – a life that is gloriously liberated from the tyranny of tradition and the fear of public opinion – because it walks in the light of its Giver, Sustainer, Lover, Helper and Friend!
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
B. The Faithlessness of the Jews Jer. 35:12-15
TRANSLATION
(12) And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying, (13) Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the man of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Will you not accept correction to obey My words (oracle of the LORD)? (14) The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons that they drink no wine, have been carried out. Unto this day they drink no wine, because they obeyed the commandment of their father. But I have spoken unto you earnestly and persistently; yet you have not hearkened unto Me! (15) With urgency and persistency I sent unto you all My servants the prophets who said, Turn please each man from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, then you shall continue to dwell in the land which I gave to you and to your fathers; but you would not pay any attention or obey Me.
COMMENTS
The presence of an eccentric group like the Rechabites in the Temple area must have created quite a sensation in Jerusalem. No doubt a crowd quickly assembled in the courtyard outside the chamber of the sons of Hanan. Apparently Jeremiah left the chamber where the demonstration had taken place and went out to address the people in the Temple court. He minces no words as he drives home the spiritual lesson. Pointedly God asks through His messenger, Will you not receive instruction to hearken to My words? Will you not learn from the Rechabites the lesson of obedience to My word? (Jer. 35:13). For over 200 years the Rechabite clan had obeyed the command of a dead ancestor even though his commandment was merely a matter of human judgment. But time and again the living God had spoken to His people, yet they had ignored or deliberately disobeyed His commandments (Jer. 35:14). Again and again God had sent unto them prophets who pleaded with the rebellious people to repent and turn from idolatry and who promised them that they could continue to dwell in their land if they would only hearken to the voice of God. But the people had refused to hearken and on occasion actually had reviled and ridiculed the servants of God (Jer. 35:15). They had persisted in their rebellion against the Lord.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(12) Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah.Up to this time the prophet had acted on the thought which came into his mind as an inspiration, without apparently more than a partial insight into its meaning. Now, as the words indicate, he passes at once into the prophetic state and speaks the prophetic words. It follows from Jer. 35:18 that it was uttered in the presence of the Rechabites and formed, we may believe, the conclusion of this strange dramatic scene.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
YHWH Uses The Loyalty Of The Rechabites To Their ‘Father’ As A Contrast With The Behaviour Of Judah Towards Their ‘Father’ ( Jer 35:12-19 ).
The Rechabites had proved their loyalty to their ‘father’ (their forefather) by their maintenance of the requirements that he had laid down, and they had done it over a long period of time. This was in total contrast to Judah’s attitude towards YHWH’s requirements. They had rather ignored YHWH’s requirements for a very long time.
Jer 35:12
‘Then the word of YHWH came to Jeremiah, saying,’
Once again the direct word of YHWH came to Jeremiah. YHWH was very much involved in the situation
Jer 35:13
“Thus says YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel, Go, and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, ‘Will you not receive instruction to listen to my words? The word of YHWH,’ ”
YHWH’s challenge (under His full title) towards the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem was that they had not been willing to receive instruction or to listen to His words, a fact which was to be seen as solemnly declared by the prophetic word of YHWH. In other words they had totally and blatantly ignored His requirements.
Jer 35:14
“The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are carried out, and to this day they drink none, for they obey their father’s commandment, but I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking, and you have not listened to me.”
And He wanted them to note that this was in total contrast with the Rechabites who had obeyed their father’s commandments to abstain from wine, something which they had observed ‘to this day’. And this in spite of the effort that YHWH had put in to bringing home His word to the men of Judah. They had simply refused to listen. Note the Jeremaic ‘I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking’.
Jer 35:15
“I have also sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Return you now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and you will dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers, but you have not inclined your ear, nor listened to me.”
Not only so, but He had also put great effort into sending the prophets to them, calling on them to return from their evil ways, to set right their behaviour, and not to go after other gods to worship and serve them. And He had promised that if they would do so He would ensure that they continued to dwell in their own land which He had given to them and their fathers. But they had refused to listen. (Thus annulling their rights in the promises given to the fathers).
Jer 35:16
“Forasmuch as the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have carried out the commandment of their father which he commanded them, but this people have not listened to me.”
So because the sons of Jonadab had obeyed the commandments of their father, whilst the men of Judah had refused to listen to the commands of their Father, He would reward the one and punish the other.
Jer 35:17
“Therefore thus says YHWH, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil which 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.”
On Judah and Jerusalem, He, ‘YHWH the God of hosts, the God of Israel’, would bring ‘all the evil which He had pronounced against them’. He would make them desolate through the activities of the Babylonians, by sword and famine and pestilence, (the usual large-scale disasters that they often faced) and would carry them into exile far away. And He would do this because when He had spoken to them they had not heard, and when He had called on them they had not answered.
Jer 35:18-19
‘And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, “Thus says YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel, because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done in accordance with all that he commanded you, therefore thus says YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel, Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.”
In contrast to the misery coming on Jerusalem and Judah His promise to the Rechabites was that He would preserve their name and their inheritance. Because they had proved their worth by their obedience to their father’s commandments and precepts, He would ensure their survival so that their group did not die out. There would ever be a ‘son of Jonadab’ to stand before Him. The group would never be wholly wiped out.
See for example in this regard Neh 3:14 where ‘a son of Rechab’ was ruler of a district. Hegesippus also speaks of Rechabites who were priests in the Apostolic age, who stood by sympathising with James our Lord’s brother in his martyrdom. And according to the Mishnah ‘the children of Jonadab son of Rechab’ had a fixed day in each year for bringing wood for the altar of the temple. Even as late as the 12th century AD Benjamin of Tudela could speak of a group of Jews who were named Rechabites and who were governed by a prince of the house of David.
‘To stand before me’ was a technical term indicating that they would in some way serve YHWH in connection with the Sanctuary. They were to have special privileges.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The Application
v. 12. Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying, v. 13. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction v. 14. The words of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine are performed, v. 15. I have sent also unto you all My servants, the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way and amend your doings and go not after other gods to serve them, v. 16. Because the sons of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, have performed the commandment of their father which he commanded them, but this people hath not hearkened unto Me, v. 17. therefore 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 evil 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. v. 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, v. 19. therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Jonadab, the son of Rechab, shall not want a man to stand before Me forever,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
2. The Application.
Jer 35:12-19
12, 13Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts [Jehovah Zebaoth], the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken 14to my words? saith the Lord. The words2 of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their fathers commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking [i. e., zealously and unceasingly3]; but ye 15hearkened not unto me. I have sent also unto all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending4them, saying Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land5 which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have 16not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me. Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded 17them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me: Therefore 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 evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have 18called unto them, but they have not answered. 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, 19and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.
EXEGETICAL AND CRITICAL
The commands of Jonadab, the Rechabite, have been kept centuries after his death by his people who are not descendants of Abraham, and who consequently participate in the covenant of promise only mediately, and in the second line. Israel, however, has not obeyed the commands of Jehovah, the God of hosts, though they have been presented and inculcated unceasingly by prophets. Therefore all the threatenings pronounced by the Lord on Israel shall be fulfilled. But to the Rechabites it is promised, that Jonadab shall not want a man to stand before Jehovah.
Jer 35:12-15. Then came hearkened unto me. From go, Jer 35:13, we see that Jeremiah was to speak these words, not in the chamber, but outside, to the people.Instruction. Comp. Jer 2:30; Jer 32:33.Return ye now, etc. Comp. Jer 25:5.
Jer 35:16-19. Because the sons forever.Shall not want a man. Comp. rems. on Jer 33:17.To stand before me. As this expression involves the idea of service (comp. Comm. on Jer 7:10), and according to the connection that of the priestly service or worship (comp. Comm. on Jer 15:19), it is not merely the continuance of the Rechabite family, but its perseverance in the worship of Jehovah. It is said that there are still Rechabites in Asia. Wolff, the missionary to the Jews, met them in Mesopotamia and Yemen. Wolff designates the desert of Yemen near Senaar, as the proper residence of these Rechabites, who still assert their origin from Hobab, the brother-in-law of Moses. Comp. Dr. JosephWolffs Travels.
DOCTRINAL AND ETHICAL
1. As the Lord says to the Jews of His time, Luk 11:31-32, that the queen of the South and the people of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment against the people of this generation, and will condemn them, for a greater than Solomon or Jonah is here, so might Jeremiah say to his contemporaries that the Rechabites would rise up against them, and condemn them, for a greater than Jonadab is here.
2. The Rechabites obedience to their ancestors command is in itself praiseworthy and exemplary. It is in perfect accordance with the fourth Commandment. Comp. Sirach 3. Were the Rechabites equally conscientious in their observance of the Divine commands? Would not a custom contrary to the divine command have been retained with equal tenacity on the authority of their chief? The family feeling and national spirit are natural. They do not mortify our fresh. They may, for the sake of the honor and interest of our family, which is mediately our own personal honor and interest, impel us to the most difficult performances. I have heard of children, on whom the inculcation of the divine commands made little impression; but when they were told, it is the Kings will, they did what was desired of them. Comp. Mar 7:8 sqq.
3. All families could not pursue Rechabs mode of life, nor should they. God gives many different callings; happy are they who can feel content in the most simple, and who constantly preserve the feeling of being pilgrims in this world. It is also not contrary to Gods ordering that distinct families, ranks and callings, are formed, or that special plans are adopted for the exercise of partnerships in certain times and circumstances, just as the church at Jerusalem introduced a kind of community of goods. We are only not to perceive any special sanctity in such arrangements; they are only practices, and all depends on the mind in which they are undertaken. Diedrich.
4.Abuti consueverunt hac narratione de Recha-bitis Monachi ad stabiliendam vitam monasticam, quemadmodum Bellarminus ex hoc capite causam eorum agere conatur (De Mon. II., cap. 5), hunc in modum scribens: Habemus etiam Jeremiah 35 insignem commendationem nepotum Rechab, qui, cum iis pater sive avus prcepisset, ut domus non dificarent, agros non seminarent, vineas non plantarent, vinum nunquam biberent, vitam durissimam quasi extra mundum agerent, omnia diligentissime observarunt, quos etiam monachorum nostrorum figuram gessisse scribit Hieronymus in Epist. ad Paulin. Cf. Hieron. in Exod. cap. 21. Frster.
HOMILETICAL AND PRACTICAL
True obedience shown in the example of Israel and the Rechabites. 1. The Rechabites put Israel to shame, in so far as they obey the command of their earthly ancestor, while the latter does not obey the Lords command. 2. The obedience of the Rechabites to the command of their earthly ancestor is however no pledge of their obedience to the commands of God. 3. Obedience to Gods commands is guaranteed only among the spiritual Israel, i. e., among those, who by the Holy Spirit have become members of a higher order of nature, in which the will of God is written in the hearts of all, and has consequently become the innermost principle of life.Or, 1. In respect to legal obedience the Jews are surpassed by the Rechabites (the difference between the two). 2. The obedience of the Rechabites to their ancestor does not guarantee their obedience to God (equality of the two). 3. Only spiritual Israel bears in itself the guarantee of obedience to Gods command (the higher third).
Footnotes:
[2]Jer 35:14. . On the construction. Comp. Naegelsb Gr., 100, 2.
[3]Jer 35:14.Comp. Jer 7:13.
[4]Jer 35:15. . Comp. Jer 7:25; Jer 25:4.
[5]Jer 35:15. . Comp. 25. 5. for . Comp. Comm. on Jer 10:1, as also , Jer 35:17, and the reverse in , Jer 35:18.
Fuente: A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical by Lange
Here we have the application of the history, as the Lord intended it, to Judah and Jerusalem: and a close heart-felt application it is. Reader! do not fail to observe the graciousness of the Lord to his people under all their unworthiness. Was there ever a nation or people so blessed! Was there ever a nation or people so rebellious! How the Chapter closeth, and what blessings to faithfulness are read to us in it! The Lord make it profitable. For if the Lord was well pleased with affection and obedience to one another among men, what blessedness must there be in our faithfulness unto God.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 35:12 Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,
Ver. 12. Then came the word of the Lord. ] Then, after this famous example of obedience thus proposed, an excellent way of teaching surely. Reason should rule, and therefore lodgeth in the brain; but when reason cannot persuade, example will.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Jer 35:12-17
12Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 13Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Go and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction by listening to My words? declares the LORD. 14The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are observed. So they do not drink wine to this day, for they have obeyed their father’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again; yet you have not listened to Me. 15Also I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, sending them again and again, saying: ‘Turn now every man from his evil way and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to worship them. Then you will dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your forefathers; but you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me. 16Indeed, the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have observed the command of their father which he commanded them, but this people has not listened to Me.” 17Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am bringing on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them; because I spoke to them but they did not listen, and I have called them but they did not answer.’
Jer 35:13 This is the key verse as to the theological point of the chapter (cf. Jer 35:16-17). This family obeyed their father but Judah did not obey their Father (i.e., God).
Jer 35:14 God sent His spokesperson again and again, but Judah would not hear and obey! See note below.
Jer 35:15 I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, sending them again and again This is a recurrent theme of Jeremiah (cf. Jer 7:13; Jer 7:25; Jer 11:7; Jer 25:3-4; Jer 26:5; Jer 29:19; Jer 32:33; Jer 35:14-15; Jer 44:4).
The Recabites heard and responded to one message by an ancient ancestor, but Judah rejected again and again the message of their God!
A sample of the message is recorded in Jer 35:15.
1.(an implied if) turn – BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Jer 18:11
2. amend – BDB 405, KB 408, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, cf. Jer 7:3; Jer 18:11
3. do not go (walk) after other gods – BDB 229, KB 240, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense, cf. Jer 7:6
4. then you shall dwell in the land – BDB 442, KB 444, Qal IMPERATIVE
The conditional element of the message has been violated as the last line of Jer 35:15 shows (cf. Jer 7:24)!
Jer 35:17 Notice the threefold emphasis on the One who is speaking the message.
1. the LORD (YHWH)
2. the God of hosts (usually YHWH of hosts, cf. Jer 35:18)
3. the God of Israel (usually Elohim of Israel, cf. Jer 35:18)
He spoke and called, but Judah would not listen or respond (cf. Jer 7:13; Jer 7:26-27; Jer 26:5).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Jer 35:12-19
Jer 35:12-17
Then came the word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Go, and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith Jehovah. The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; and unto this day they drink none, for they obey their father’s commandment: but I have spoken unto you, rising up early and speaking; and ye have not hearkened unto me. I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and 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. Forasmuch as the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father which he commanded them, but this people hath not hearkened unto me; therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil 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.
Little comment is required, for this text is the basis for the enumerated contrasts in the above paragraphs. These verses reach their climax in, “The thunder of judgment in Jer 35:17. Such a course of action by Israel can lead to but one end, the destruction of the nation.”
Jer 35:18-19
And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith Jehovah 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 commanded you; therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.
Attempts to pinpoint the fulfillment of this promise to the Rechabites have been made, but not very convincingly. Nevertheless, we know that God did indeed bless the Rechabites as indicated here. Payne Smith declared that, “Professor Plumptre proved that the prophecy here was literally fulfilled when the Rechabites were incorporated into the tribe of Levi, whose office it was ‘to stand before Jehovah’ (Deu 10:8).” It is also possible that the firm rejection of alcoholic drinks in the Arab countries today may have come about, in part, because of the influence of the Rechabites. “Even today in Syria and Arabia, there are groups that claim to be Rechabites and that follow the Rechabite rule.”
The Faithlessness of the Jews Jer 35:12-15
The presence of an eccentric group like the Rechabites in the Temple area must have created quite a sensation in Jerusalem. No doubt a crowd quickly assembled in the courtyard outside the chamber of the sons of Hanan. Apparently Jeremiah left the chamber where the demonstration had taken place and went out to address the people in the Temple court. He minces no words as he drives home the spiritual lesson. Pointedly God asks through His messenger, Will you not receive instruction to hearken to My words? Will you not learn from the Rechabites the lesson of obedience to My word? (Jer 35:13). For over 200 years the Rechabite clan had obeyed the command of a dead ancestor even though his commandment was merely a matter of human judgment. But time and again the living God had spoken to His people, yet they had ignored or deliberately disobeyed His commandments (Jer 35:14). Again and again God had sent unto them prophets who pleaded with the rebellious people to repent and turn from idolatry and who promised them that they could continue to dwell in their land if they would only hearken to the voice of God. But the people had refused to hearken and on occasion actually had reviled and ridiculed the servants of God (Jer 35:15). They had persisted in their rebellion against the Lord.
The Fate of the Rechabites and the Jews Jer 35:16-19
In view of the fact that Judah had ignored or spurned all efforts of God to turn them back from apostasy, God is compelled to execute judgment upon the nation. God declares: I will bring upon Judah and Jerusalem all the evil (calamity) that I have pronounced against them (Jer 35:17). Just before bringing the children of Israel into Canaan God had warned His people through Moses that remaining in possession of that land flowing with milk and honey was contingent upon their faithfulness (Deuteronomy 28). Every prophet from Amos onwards had reminded the nation of this fact. The fall of Samaria in 722 B.C. should have served as empirical proof of the proposition. Yet Judah plunged even deeper into apostasy. There was no other alternative. Judah must be punished, her population deported and her land made desolate. The contrast in Jer 35:16-17 is great: a small obscure clan faithful to the word of their forefather on the one hand; an entire nation unfaithful to the word of their heavenly Father on the other. Surely the impending judgment was justified.
The passage concludes with a word of commendation for the Rechabites. Because they had faithfully observed the commandments of their father, Jonadab shall not want a man to stand before Me forever (Jer 35:18-19). To stand before anyone in Old Testament thought is to function as a servant to that person. Thus the promise here is that throughout the ages there would always be obedient servants of the Lord among the descendants of Jonadab. It is not easy to determine in what way the Lord fulfilled His promise to the Rechabites. Some missionaries and travelers report having encountered Rechabites in Yemen and Mesopotamia. Perhaps it is better, however, to think in terms of a spiritual fulfillment of the promise. Throughout history there have been and will be spiritual descendants of the Rechabites who remain true to their convictions and separate themselves from the sinfulness of the world.
Judgment Arrives – Jer 34:1 to Jer 35:19
Open It
1. Whom do you admire for his or her faithfulness and integrity, and how does this person demonstrate those qualities?
2. What do you think motivates people to go back on their word?
Explore It
3. What good news and bad news did Jeremiah have for king Zedekiah during the siege of Jerusalem? (Jer 34:1-5)
4. At the time of this prophecy, what cities had not yet fallen to the king of Babylon? (Jer 34:6-7)
5. What agreement did king Zedekiah make with the people of Jerusalem? (Jer 34:8-9)
6. How did the people respond to Zedekiahs suggestion about abolishing the slavery of fellow Jews? (Jer 34:10)
7. After they had agreed to free the slaves, what did the people do? (Jer 34:11)
8. What was Gods plan for dealing with the issues of Israelites as slaves? (Jer 34:12-14)
9. What solemn agreement was initiated by Jeremiahs countrymen? (Jer 34:15)
10. What action by the leadership of Judah profaned Gods name? (Jer 34:16)
11. What was Gods sarcastic expression for the punishment He decreed? (Jer 34:17)
12. How did God turn the ceremony used for solemnizing an agreement into a picture of the punishment due those who broke the agreement? (Jer 34:18-20)
13. What specific prophecy destroyed the hope that Nebuchadnezzar had withdrawn from Jerusalem for good? (Jer 34:21-22)
14. What invitation did God tell Jeremiah to issue to the Recabite family? (Jer 35:1-2)
15. Where did Jeremiah meet with the Recabites? (Jer 35:3-5)
16. How did the Recabites respond to Jeremiahs invitation? (Jer 35:6)
17. What instruction of their ancestor had the Recabites been obeying to the letter? (Jer 35:7-10)
18. Why had the Recabites come to Jerusalem? (Jer 35:11)
19. How did Jeremiah use the example of the Recabites obedience to call the people of Jerusalem to account? (Jer 35:12-16)
20. How did the peoples response to Gods call through His prophets seal their doom? (Jer 35:17)
21. What was Gods promise to the Recabites because of their integrity and wholehearted obedience? (Jer 35:18-19)
Get It
22. What might Zedekiah have hoped would happen if the people repented of making slaves?
23. In what sense did it profane the name of God when His people broke their agreement with Him?
24. Why were the people of Jerusalem unwise to break a covenant they had made with God?
25. Why did God honor the obedience of the Recabites?
26. How are the examples in these chapters insightful lessons about the value of keeping your word?
27. What promises do contemporary people tend to take lightly?
28. What sorts of consequences follow in the wake of a broken promise?
29. What is gained by fulfilling the terms of a promise even if it hurts or requires sacrifice?
Apply It
30. What promise do you need to keep, even if it is costly to you?
31. How could you advise a fellow Christian before he or she enters into a binding promise or agreement?.
Questions On Jeremiah Chapter Thirty-Five
By Brent Kercheville
1 What was the lesson God wanted his people to learn from the Rekabites (Jer 35:1-16)?
2 How do we fall into the same sin?
3 What blessing does God give for the faithfulness of the Rekabites (Jer 35:17-19)?
TRANSFORMATION:
How does this relationship change your relationship with God? What did you learn about him?
What will you do differently in your life?
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Jer 35:12. After this experience with the Rechabites. the Lord was ready to draw a lesson for the use of Jeremiah with his people.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 35:12-16. Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah As the trial of the constancy of the Rechabites was only intended for a sign, so now we have the application of it made by God himself. Tell the men of Judah, Will ye not receive instruction? &c. Will nothing enlighten or affect you? Will nothing prevail to make you sensible of your sin and duty? You see how obedient the Rechabites are to their fathers commandment; but you have not hearkened unto me Though it might have been more reasonably expected that my people should have obeyed me, than that the sons of Jonadab should have obeyed him. Thus the Rechabites observance of their fathers charge to them is made use of by God as an aggravation of the disobedience of the Jews to him: and the aggravation was certainly very high. For, 1st, The Rechabites were obedient to one that was but a man like themselves, and had only the wisdom and power of a man, and was only the father of their flesh; but the Jews were disobedient to the infinite and eternal God, that had an absolute authority over them, as the father of their spirits. 2d, Jonadab was long since dead, and was ignorant of his posterity, and could neither take cognizance of their disobedience to his orders, nor give any correction for it; but God lives for ever to see how his laws are observed, and is in readiness to punish all disobedience. 3d, The Rechabites were probably seldom or never put in mind of their obligations to their progenitor; but God often sent his prophets to his people, to remind them of, and excite to, their duty to him, yet they would not comply with it. This is insisted on here as a great aggravation of their disobedience, Jer 35:14; Jer 15:4 th, Jonadab had not conferred, nor could confer, any such favours on his seed as God had bestowed on his people, nor had laid them under any such obligations, from duty and interest, to obey him, as God had laid Israel and Judah under to observe his laws. 5th, God did not oblige his people to so much hardship, and to such instances of self-denial and mortification, as Jonadab enjoined to his seed, and yet Jonadabs orders, were obeyed, and Gods were not.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The rebuke of the Judahites 35:12-17
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
After this experience, the Lord instructed Jeremiah to speak to the people of Jerusalem and Judah. He was to ask them if they would not receive instruction from Him. Jeremiah may well have expected that when the Lord sent him a message it would have been one censuring the Rechabites for their eccentric lifestyle, legalism, and refusal to drink wine. But the Rechabites’ chosen lifestyle was no problem to Yahweh. [Note: Kidner, p. 118.]