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Texts -- Jeremiah 35:1-19 (NET)

Context
Judah’s Unfaithfulness Contrasted with the Rechabites’ Faithfulness
35:1 The Lord spoke to Jeremiah when Jehoiakim son of Josiah was ruling over Judah . 35:2 “Go to the Rechabite community . Invite them to come into one of the side rooms of the Lord’s temple and offer them some wine to drink .” 35:3 So I went and got Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah the grandson of Habazziniah , his brothers , all his sons , and all the rest of the Rechabite community . 35:4 I took them to the Lord’s temple . I took them into the room where the disciples of the prophet Hanan son of Igdaliah stayed. That room was next to the one where the temple officers stayed and above the room where Maaseiah son of Shallum , one of the doorkeepers of the temple, stayed. 35:5 Then I set cups and pitchers full of wine in front of the members of the Rechabite community and said to them, “Have some wine .” 35:6 But they answered , “We do not drink wine because our ancestor Jonadab son of Rechab commanded us not to. He told us, ‘You and your children must never drink wine . 35:7 Do not build houses . Do not plant crops . Do not plant a vineyard or own one. Live in tents all your lives . If you do these things you will live a long time in the land that you wander about on.’ 35:8 We and our wives and our sons and daughters have obeyed everything our ancestor Jonadab commanded us. We have never drunk wine . 35:9 We have not built any houses to live in. We do not own any vineyards , fields , or crops . 35:10 We have lived in tents . We have obeyed our ancestor Jonadab and done exactly as he commanded us. 35:11 But when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded the land we said , ‘Let’s get up and go to Jerusalem to get away from the Babylonian and Aramean armies .’ That is why we are staying here in Jerusalem .” 35:12 Then the Lord spoke to Jeremiah . 35:13 The Lord God of Israel who rules over all told him, “Go and speak to the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem . Tell them, ‘I, the Lord , say: “You must learn a lesson from this about obeying what I say ! 35:14 Jonadab son of Rechab ordered his descendants not to drink wine . His orders have been carried out . To this day his descendants have drunk no wine because they have obeyed what their ancestor commanded them. But I have spoken to you over and over again , but you have not obeyed me! 35:15 I sent all my servants the prophets to warn you over and over again . They said , “Every one of you, stop doing the evil things you have been doing and do what is right . Do not pay allegiance to other gods and worship them. Then you can continue to live in this land that I gave to you and your ancestors .” But you did not pay any attention or listen to me. 35:16 Yes , the descendants of Jonadab son of Rechab have carried out the orders that their ancestor gave them. But you people have not obeyed me! 35:17 So I, the Lord , the God who rules over all , the God of Israel , say : “I will soon bring on Judah and all the citizens of Jerusalem all the disaster that I threatened to bring on them. I will do this because I spoke to them but they did not listen . I called out to them but they did not answer .”’” 35:18 Then Jeremiah spoke to the Rechabite community , “The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says , ‘You have obeyed the orders of your ancestor Jonadab . You have followed all his instructions . You have done exactly as he commanded you.’ 35:19 So the Lord God of Israel who rules over all says , ‘Jonadab son of Rechab will never lack a male descendant to serve me.’”

Pericope

NET
  • Jer 35:1-19 -- Judah's Unfaithfulness Contrasted with the Rechabites' Faithfulness

Bible Dictionary

  • Wine

    [ebd] The common Hebrew word for wine is yayin, from a root meaning "to boil up," "to be in a ferment." Others derive it from a root meaning "to tread out," and hence the juice of the grape trodden out. The Greek word for wine is ...
    [nave] WINE Made from grapes, Gen. 40:11; 49:11; Isa. 25:6; Jer. 40:10, 12; from pomegranates, Song 8:2. Kept in jars, Jer. 13:12; 48:12; in skins, Josh. 9:4, 13; Job 32:19; Matt. 9:17; Luke 5:37, 38; in bottles, Josh. 9:4, 13; Jo...

  • Temptation

    [nave] TEMPTATION. Gen. 3:1-13; Gen. 20:6; Ex. 34:12 vs. 13-16.; Deut. 7:25; Deut. 8:11-14, 17, 18; Deut. 13:3; 1 Chr. 21:1; 2 Chr. 32:30, 31; Psa. 119:165; Prov. 1:10-17; Prov. 2:10-12, 16; Prov. 4:14, 15; Prov. 5:6-21; Prov. 6:2...

  • Rechabites

    [nave] RECHABITES A family of Kenites descended from Rechab, through Jonadab, 1 Chr. 2:55; Jer. 35:6. Enjoined by Jonadab to drink no wine, Jer. 35:6. Adhere to the injunction of abstinence; perpetuation of the family promised as...

  • Rechab

    [ebd] horseman, or chariot. (1.) One of Ishbosheth's "captains of bands" or leaders of predatory troops (2 Sam. 4:2). (2.) The father of Jehonadab, who was the father of the Rechabites (2 Kings 10:15, 23; Jer. 35:6-19).
    [smith] (rider). One of the two "captains of bands" whom Ish-bosheth took into his service, and who conspired to murder him. (2 Samuel 4:2) (B.C. 1046.) The father of Malchiah, ruler of part of Beth-haccerem. (Nehemiah 3:14) (B.C...
    [nave] RECHAB 1. Son of Rimmon. Murders Ish-bosheth, son of Saul; put to death by David, 2 Sam. 4:5-12. 2. Father of Jehonadab, 2 Kin. 10:15, 23; 1 Chr. 2:55; Jer. 35:6, 8, 16, 19. Ancestor of the Rechabites, Jer. 35. 3. Father ...

  • RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY

    [isbe] RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY - re-la'-shun-ships: I. CONSANGUINITY 1. In General 2. Parents and Children 3. Brothers and Sisters 4. Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, Kinsmen II. AFFINITY 1. Husband and Wife 2. Father-in-Law, etc. 3. Brother-...

  • RECHAB; RECHABITES

    [isbe] RECHAB; RECHABITES - re'-kab, rek'-a-bits (rekhabh, rekhabhim): Rechab is the name of two men of some prominence in the Old Testament records: (1) A Benjamite of the town of Beeroth, son of Rimmon (2 Sam 4:2); he and his bro...

  • PRISON

    [smith] [For imprisonment as a punishment, see PUNISHMENTS] It is plain that in Egypt special places were used as prisons, and that they were under the custody of a military officer. (Genesis 40:3; 42:17) During the wandering in the ...

  • Nazirite

    [nave] NAZIRITE Law concerning, Num. 6:1-21; Judg. 13:5. Character of, Lam. 4:7; Amos 2:11, 12. Instances of Samson, Judg. 13:5, 7; 16:17. Samuel, 1 Sam. 1:11. Rechabites, Jer. 35. John the Baptist, Matt. 11:18; Luke 1:15; 7:...

  • Jonadab

    [ebd] =Jehon'adab. (1.) The son of Rechab, and founder of the Rechabites (q.v.), 2 Kings 10:15; Jer. 35:6, 10. (2.) The son of Shimeah, David's brother (2 Sam. 13:3). He was "a very subtil man."
    [smith] (whom Jehovah impels). Son of Shimeah and nephew of David. (B.C. 1033.) He is described as "very subtle." (2 Samuel 13:3) His age naturally made him the friend of his cousin Amnon, heir to the throne. (2 Samuel 13:3) H...
    [nave] JONADAB 1. Nephew of David. His complicity with Amnon in his rape of Tamar, 2 Sam. 13:3-5. Comforts David on death of Amnon, 2 Sam. 13:32-35. 2. Called also Jehonadab. A Rechabite and companion of Jehu, 2 Kin. 10:15-23. H...

  • Jaaz-aniah

    [ebd] heard by Jehovah. (1.) The son of Jeremiah, and one of the chief Rechabites (Jer. 35:3). (2.) The son of Shaphan (Ezek. 8:11). (3.) The son of Azur, one of the twenty-five men seen by Ezekiel (11:1) at the east gate of the t...

  • JEHU

    [isbe] JEHU - je'-hu (yehu; meaning uncertain, perhaps "Yahweh is he"; 1 Ki 19:16,17; 2 Ki 9; 10; Eiou): Son of Jehoshaphat, and descendant of Nimshi, hence, commonly called "the son of Nimshi"; 10th king of Israel, and founder of ...

  • JEHONADAB

    [ebd] Jehovah is liberal; or, whom Jehovah impels. (1.) A son of Shimeah, and nephew of David. It was he who gave the fatal wicked advice to Amnon, the heir to the throne (2 Sam. 13:3-6). He was very "subtil," but unprincipled. (2...
    [isbe] JEHONADAB - je-hon'-a-dab (yehonadhabh, either "Yahweh is noble" or "liberal," or "Yahweh has impelled") = Jonadab (yonadhabh, same meaning): (1) Jehonadab in the Hebrew of 2 Sam 13:5; but Jonadab in English Versions of the ...

  • Hanan

    [ebd] merciful. (1.) A Benjamite (1 Chr. 8:23). (2.) One of David's heroes (1 Chr. 11:43). (3.) Jer. 35:4. (4.) A descendant of Saul (1 Chr. 8:38). (5.) One of the Nethinim (Ezra 2:46). (6.) One of the Levites who assisted Ezra (N...
    [isbe] HANAN - ha'-nan (chanan, "gracious"): (1) A chief of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Ch 8:23). (2) The youngest son of Azel, a descendant of Saul (1 Ch 8:38; 9:44). (3) One of David's mighty men of valor (1 Ch 11:43). (4) The head ...
    [smith] (merciful). One of the chief people of the tribe of Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 8:23) The last of the six sons of Azel, a descendant of Saul. (1 Chronicles 8:38; 9:44) (B.C. 588.) "Son of Maachah," i.e. possibly a Syrian o...
    [nave] HANAN 1. Son of Shashak, 1 Chr. 8:23. 2. Son of Azel, 1 Chr. 8:38; 9:44. 3. One of David's mighty men, 1 Chr. 11:43. 4. One of the Nethinim, Ezra 2:46; Neh. 7:49. 5. A Levite, Neh. 8:7; 10:10. Probably identical with th...

  • GENTILES

    [isbe] GENTILES - jen'-tilz (goy, plural goyim; ethnos, "people," "nation"): Goy (or Goi) is rendered "Gentiles" in the King James Version in some 30 passages, but much more frequently "heathen," and oftener still, "nation," which ...

  • FATHER

    [isbe] FATHER - fa'-ther (Anglo-Saxon, Foeder; German, Vater; Hebrew 'abh, etymology uncertain, found in many cognate languages; Greek pater, from root pa, "nourisher," "protector," "upholder"): 1. Immediate Male Ancestor: Immediat...

  • DRUNKENNESS

    [isbe] DRUNKENNESS - drunk'-'-n-nes (raweh, shikkaron, shethi; methe): I. Its Prevalance. The Bible affords ample proof that excessive drinking of intoxicants was a common vice among the Hebrews, as among other ancient peoples. Thi...

  • DOORKEEPER

    [isbe] DOORKEEPER - dor'-kep-er (sho`er): The gates of an oriental city and of the temple courts so closely resembled the door of a house that the same Hebrew word was used for doorkeeper and gatekeeper. It is often translated by t...

  • COURT OF THE SANCTUARY; TABERNACLE; TEMPLE

    [isbe] COURT OF THE SANCTUARY; TABERNACLE; TEMPLE - kort, sank'~-tu-a-ri: By "court" (chatser) is meant a clear space enclosed by curtains or walls, or surrounded by buildings. It was always an uncovered enclosure, but might have w...

  • Bowl

    [ebd] The sockets of the lamps of the golden candlestick of the tabernacle are called bowls (Ex. 25:31, 33, 34; 37:17, 19, 20); the same word so rendered being elsewhere rendered "cup" (Gen. 44:2, 12, 16), and wine "pot" (Jer. 35:...

  • AB (1)

    [isbe] AB (1) - ('abh, the Hebrew and Aramaic word for "father"): It is a very common word in the Old Testament; this article notes only certain uses of it. It is used both in the singular and in the plural to denote a grandfather ...

Arts

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • Jehu challenged the nobles of Samaria and Jezreel who were rearing Ahab's 70 male descendants to select an heir and to battle Jehu. This would decide whether Ahab's house or Jehu's would rule Israel. Rather than fight a battl...
  • Baxter, J. Sidlow. Explore the Book. 6 vols. London: Marshall, Morgan, and Scott, 1965.Bromiley, Geoffrey W. God and Marriage. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1980.Bullock, C. Hassell. An Introduction to the Poe...
  • Jeremiah's purpose was to call his hearers to repentance in view of God's judgment on Judah, which would come soon from an army from the north (chs. 2-45). Judgment was coming because God's people had forsaken Yahweh and had ...
  • I. Introduction ch. 1A. The introduction of Jeremiah 1:1-3B. The call of Jeremiah 1:4-191. The promise of divine enablement 1:4-102. Two confirming visions 1:11-19II. Prophecies about Judah chs. 2-45A. Warnings of judgment on...
  • 1:4 The prophet now began speaking to his readers and telling them what the Lord had said to him. Throughout this book, an indication that the Lord had told Jeremiah something is often the sign of a new pericope, as here (cf....
  • This section consists of four parts: a summary of Jeremiah's Temple Sermon (vv. 2-6), the prophet's arrest and trial (vv. 7-16), the elders' plea for his life (vv. 17-19, 24), and the incident involving Uriah and his executio...
  • The Book of Consolation contained messages of future hope for Judah (chs. 30-33). Now Jeremiah returned to document her present judgment. Chapters 34-45 continue the theme of judgment on Judah and Jerusalem from chapters 2-29...
  • "The Book of Consolation has ended, and 34:1 confronts its readers with the full force of the invading imperial army. The destruction of Jerusalem and the remainder of Judah seems inevitable (v 3) because the LORD has made Ne...
  • This incident happened during the respite in the siege, as did those recorded in 32:1-15; 37-38; and 39:15-18 (cf. vv. 21-22). The year was about 588 B.C.34:8-9 The following message came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Zedek...
  • The theme of Judah's faithlessness carries over from chapter 34. The promise-breakers in 34:8-22 contrast with the promise-keepers in chapter 35. The events described in chapters 35 and 36 preceded those in chapters 32-34 chr...
  • 35:1 This oracle came to Jeremiah during King Jehoiakim's reign (609-598 B.C.) after the Babylonians had begun to invade Judah (v. 11). Second Kings 24:1-2 reads, "In his [Jehoiakim's] days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came...
  • 35:12-13 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.46135:14 The Rechabites had faithfully obeyed their...
  • 35:18 Jeremiah then took a promise from the Lord back to the Rechabites. The Lord praised them for their tenacity in clinging to what they believed to be right, not because He approved their puritanical ideals.35:19 Someone f...
  • 36:21 The king proceeded to send Jehudi to get the scroll from Elishama in the scribe's room. When Jehudi returned with it, he read it to the king and his officials.36:22 Since it was winter, the king was sitting in his winte...
  • This chapter belongs after chapter 36 chronologically, either after 36:8 or 36:32. It serves as an appendix to the historical incidents recorded there. Perhaps the writer or final editor placed it here to show that Yahweh exe...
  • Aharoni, Yohanan, and Michael Avi-Yonah. The Macmillan Bible Atlas. Revised ed. London: Collier Macmillan Publishers; and New York: Macmillan Publishers Co., 1977.Albright, William Foxwell. The Archaeology of Palestine. Revis...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people have not hearkened unto Me.'--Jer. 35:16.THE Rechabites had lived a nomad life, dwelling in tents,...
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