
Text -- Jeremiah 35:18-19 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley -> Jer 35:19
For ever here signifies the ever of the Jewish state, or church.
JFB -> Jer 35:19
JFB: Jer 35:19 - -- There shall always be left representatives of the clan to worship Me (Jer 15:1, Jer 15:19); or, "before Me" means simple existence, for all things in ...
Clarke -> Jer 35:19
Clarke: Jer 35:19 - -- Thus saith the Lord - Jonadab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever - His name shall ever be honorable, and his posterity shall enjoy my ...
Thus saith the Lord - Jonadab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever - His name shall ever be honorable, and his posterity shall enjoy my continual protection, and there shall never be found a time in which men of his spirit shall be wanting as patterns of genuine simplicity, filial obedience, purity of manners, and deadness to the world. True Christians may be considered as the genuine successors of these ancient Rechabites; and some suppose that the Essenes, in our Lord’ s time, were literally their descendants and that these were they who followed our Lord particularly, and became the first converts to the Gospel. If so, the prophecy is literally fulfilled: they shall never want a man to stand before God, to proclaim his salvation, and minister to the edification and salvation of others, as long as the earth shall endure.
Calvin: Jer 35:18 - -- Here the Prophet, that he might affect the Jews more deeply, promises a reward to the sons of Jonadab, because they obeyed their father; and he promi...
Here the Prophet, that he might affect the Jews more deeply, promises a reward to the sons of Jonadab, because they obeyed their father; and he promises them a blessing from God. Nor is it to be wondered at, for this commandment, as Paul says, is the first to which a promise is annexed. (Eph 6:2) God promises generally a reward to all who keep the Law, for every command has in general connected with it the hope of reward; but this is in a special manner added to the Fifth Commandment: “Honor thy father and thy mother, that thou mayest prolong thy life,” etc. It is, then, nothing strange that God promised a reward to the Rechabites, because they followed the command of their father, for he had promised that in the Law.
But what the Papists allege, that the obedience rendered to the Church is on the same account pleasing to God, may, as we have said, be easily confuted; for if the Rechabites had followed the command of their father in a thing unlawfill, they would have been worthy of punishment; but as this precept, as we have shewn, was not inconsistent with God’s Law, God approved of their obedience. But the laws which are made for the purpose of setting up fictitious modes of worship are altogether impious, for they introduce idolatry. God has prescribed how he would have us to worship him; whatever, therefore, men bring in of themselves is wholly impious, for it adulterates the pure worship of God; and further, when necessity is laid on consciences, it is, as we have said, a tyrannical bondage. Such was not the object of Jonadab; for what he commanded his posterity was useful, and referred only to things of this life; and it did not bind their consciences; for when it was necessary they moved to Jerusalem and dwelt as others in houses; for they did not erect tents at Jerusalem, but lived in hired dwellings; and yet they obeyed their father’s command, for his purpose in ordering them to dwell in tents, was, that they might remain unincumbered, so that they might be always ready to move. We hence see how foolishly the Papists pervert this passage in order to support their tyrannical laws.
And thus this truth may stand, that the obedience of the Rechabites pleased God, because nature itself requires that children should obey their parents; and we also know that God often rewards the shadows of virtues in order to shew that virtues themselves are pleasing to him. 100 But there is no doubt but that this promise, as I have before said, was designedly given, in order to stimulate the Jews, according to what is said in the Song of Moses,
“I will provoke them by a foolish nation, because they have provoked me by those who are no gods; and I will take vengeance on them, for I will bring forth nations which were not before.” (Deu 32:21)

Calvin: Jer 35:19 - -- So then God now, in order to excite and rouse the Jews, promises to bless the Rechabites, because they had been obedient to their father, There shal...
So then God now, in order to excite and rouse the Jews, promises to bless the Rechabites, because they had been obedient to their father, There shall not be cut off a man from Jonadab, that is, from the offspring of Jonadab, standing (literally) before my face; but as the conciseness of the verse renders it obscure and ambiguous, I have introduced an addition, — but that he may stand before my face And he says that they would stand before his face, not that they were to be priests or Levites, as some of the Rabbins have said, who have applied this passage to the priesthood, because it is often said in Scripture both of the Levites and the priests, that they stood before the face of God. They, therefore, think that the same thing is meant here when spoken of the Rechabites. But this is a strained meaning. God simply intimates, that some of Jonadab’s offspring would be always living, and that through his special favor, that their obedience might not appear to be without its just reward. This is the meaning. Now follows, —
Defender -> Jer 35:19
Defender: Jer 35:19 - -- The descendants of Rechab and Jonadab were apparently also related to the Kenites and Moses' father-in-law (Jdg 1:16; 1Ch 2:55). In any case, they wer...
The descendants of Rechab and Jonadab were apparently also related to the Kenites and Moses' father-in-law (Jdg 1:16; 1Ch 2:55). In any case, they were courageous, devout and firm in their convictions, even abstaining totally from wine. God honored them for this, and Jeremiah used them as a standard of comparison to the others in Israel. Note also 2Ki 10:15 as a testimony to the spiritual stand of Jonadab."

TSK: Jer 35:19 - -- Jonadab : etc. Heb. There shall not a man be cut off from Jonadab the son of Rechab to stand, etc. Jer 33:17; 1Ch 2:55
stand : Jer 15:19, Jer 33:17, J...

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Jer 35:19
Barnes: Jer 35:19 - -- Travelers bear witness to the existence of a large tribe who represent themselves as the descendants of the Rechabites. The prediction was also lite...
Travelers bear witness to the existence of a large tribe who represent themselves as the descendants of the Rechabites. The prediction was also literally fulfilled in the Rechabites being in some way incorporated into the tribe of Levi, whose office especially it was to "stand before"Yahweh Deu 10:8.
Poole -> Jer 35:19
Poole: Jer 35:19 - -- For ever here signifies the ever of the Jewish state or church; whether the promise relates to the abiding of Jonadab’ s family, when many fam...
For ever here signifies the ever of the Jewish state or church; whether the promise relates to the abiding of Jonadab’ s family, when many families of the Jews were quite rooted out, cut off, and extinct, or to some special favour that God would show them, or to some place of office they should have in or about the temple, (as some judge, because, 1Ch 2:55 , it appears they were scribes,) is uncertain. But it is a question of more moment, How God promiseth a reward to these sons’ of Jonadab for obeying the command of their father, and whether they had sinned if they had not obeyed this command of Jonadab; which brings in another question, Whether parents have a power to oblige their children in matters which God hath left at liberty . To which I answer,
1. God might reward these Rechabites for their reverence and obedience to Jonadab their father, though these were not strictly, by the Divine law, obliged thus far to have obeyed him ; as he rewarded David for his thoughts in his heart to build him a house, though it was not God’ s will that he should do it; so as God’ s promise of the reward doth not prove their obedience in this particular to have been their duty. Admit that it remained still a matter of liberty, yet the general honour and reverence they testified might be rewarded by God.
2. Unquestionably parents have not a power to determine children in all things as to which God hath left them a liberty , for then they have a power to make their children slaves, and to take away all their natural liberty. To marry or not, and to this or that person, is matter of liberty. Parents cannot in this case determine their children; Bethuel, Gen 24:58 , asketh Rebekah if she would go with Abraham’ s servant before he would send her.
3. In matters of civil concernment they have a far greater power than in matters of religion . All souls are God’ s, and conscience can be under no other dominion than that of God.
4. In civil things parents have a great power, during the nonage of children, and after also in matters which concern their parents’ good , as to command them to assist them, to help to supply their necessities, &c.
5. Parents being set over children, and instead of God to them, as it is their duty to advise their children to the best of their ability for their good; so it is the duty of children to receive their advice, and not to depart from it, unless they see circumstances so mistaken by parents, or so altered by the providence of God, as they may reasonably judge their parents, had these known or foreseen it, would not have so advised. But that parents have an absolute power to determine children in all things as to which God hath not forbidden them, and that children by the law of God are obliged to an obedience to all such commands, however they may see their parents mistaken, or God by his providence may have altered circumstances, I see no reason to conclude. Jonadab had prudently advised his sons as before mentioned; they were things they might do, and which by experience they found not hurtful to them, but of great profit and advantage, and that with reference to all the ends of man’ s life: herein they yield obedience, and pay a reverence to their parent; this pleaseth God, he promiseth to reward them with the continuance of their family, according to what he had said, Exo 20:12 , in the fifth commandment, which the apostle calleth the first commandment with promise.
Haydock -> Jer 35:19
Haydock: Jer 35:19 - -- Before me, in an honourable situation (1 Paralipomenon ii. 55.) about the temple. It was not requisite that they should be Levites. (Calmet) ---
F...
Before me, in an honourable situation (1 Paralipomenon ii. 55.) about the temple. It was not requisite that they should be Levites. (Calmet) ---
For ever. Their reward shall be eternal bliss. (Haydock) ---
This they sought for, as they were strangers of Madian in the country, ver. 7. (Menochius)
Gill: Jer 35:18 - -- And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites,.... To the family of them, to those that were with him in the temple, and while they were there; a...
And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites,.... To the family of them, to those that were with him in the temple, and while they were there; and what he said to them, which is as follows, was by the order and direction of the Lord:
thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; he uses the same titles, when speaking to them, as to the Jews, expressive of his sovereignty, power, and grace:
because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father; that particular command concerning not drinking wine:
and kept all his precepts, and done according to all that he hath commanded you; all the rest, as well as that; though they were many, they took notice of them, and observed them; they kept them in their minds and memory, and made them the rule of their actions, and conformed to them in all respects.

Gill: Jer 35:19 - -- Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,.... Who has enjoined children obedience to their parents, and has promised to reward it, an...
Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,.... Who has enjoined children obedience to their parents, and has promised to reward it, and does:
Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever; which may be understood of a long time, of ages to come; or as long as the people of the Jews were a people, or the world should stand, the posterity of this man should continue: or, "a man shall not be cut off from Jonadab &c." h; his offspring shall never fail. It is certain that some of this family returned from the captivity, 1Ch 2:55; and, according to Scaliger i, the Hasidaeans sprung from them. And, if any credit could be given to Benjamin Tudelensis, there were Rechabites in the twelfth century, since the times of Christ; for he tells k us, that in his travels he found a place where Jews dwelt, who were called Rechabites. The phrase, "to stand before me", is by the Targum paraphrased,
"ministering before me;''
serving and worshipping God, for they were religious people; that is, in their own families, carrying on religious worship among themselves, and not in the temple, where they had no office, and did no service; though some think they had, because called scribes, 1Ch 2:55. Kimchi says that some of their Rabbins asserted that the daughters of these people married priests, and so some of their children's children offered sacrifice on the altar. And if what Eusebius reports from Hegesippus is true, there were priests of this family after the times of Christ; for he says l, that when the Jews were stoning James the just, a priest of the sons of Rechab cried out, saying, stop, what are ye doing? but these testimonies are not to be depended on; however, we may be sure of this, that the promise of God shall not fail, but be certainly accomplished. Very appropriate are the words of the learned Alting m upon this subject:
"not only the Lord promises length of life to the obedient, which proselytes, equally with Israelites, have the promise of; but, particularly, that the posterity of Jonadab should not perish, should have a place in the church of God, and an admission to the gracious enjoyment of God; not as priests and Levites, but as other Israelites and strangers, Isa 56:4; so that the posterity of Jonadab must still continue, and hope of restoration of them with the Israelites remains; as in Jer 31:36; but in the same way and manner; so that being equally sharers in exile, they are to be restored after a long interruption. Indeed, the family is not at this day known; but from the ignorance of men, to the denial of a thing, there is no available argument. Families cannot be confounded, since they descend by the fathers; mothers do not belong to them; and as is the father as to tribe, so also is the son and grandson, and so on. A genealogical series may perish from the knowledge of men, but not from the nature of things, and the knowledge of God. Though the seeds of wheat, barley, and other things, may be mixed together, that men cannot distinguish them, yet their distinction does not perish; and God not only knows it, but also discovers it, when he makes every seed to rise in its own body, 1Co 15:37; so must we judge concerning families.''
Perhaps, since these Rechabites were proselytes, and not Israelites, the conversion of the Gentiles may be respected; who are priests in a spiritual sense, and minister before the Lord, offering up, through Christ, the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise; and such a generation to serve the Lord will never be wanting.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Jer 35:18 Heb “Yahweh of armies, the God of Israel.” For this title, which occurs again in the following verse, see the notes on 7:3 and the study n...

NET Notes: Jer 35:19 Heb “There shall not be cut to Jonadab son of Rechab a man standing before me all the days.” For the first part of this idiom see 33:17-18...
Geneva Bible -> Jer 35:19
Geneva Bible: Jer 35:19 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall ( m ) not lack a man to stand before me for ever.
( m ) Hi...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Jer 35:1-19
TSK Synopsis: Jer 35:1-19 - --1 By the obedience of the Rechabites,12 Jeremiah condemns the disobedience of the Jews.18 God blesses the Rechabites for their obedience.
MHCC -> Jer 35:12-19
MHCC: Jer 35:12-19 - --The trial of the Rechabites' constancy was for a sign; it made the disobedience of the Jews to God the more marked. The Rechabites were obedient to on...
Matthew Henry -> Jer 35:12-19
Matthew Henry: Jer 35:12-19 - -- 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 f...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Jer 35:18-19
Keil-Delitzsch: Jer 35:18-19 - --
The declaration concerning the Rechabites is introduced by the formula, "And to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said;" thereby, too, it is show...
Constable: Jer 2:1--45:5 - --II. Prophecies about Judah chs. 2--45
The first series of prophetic announcements, reflections, and incidents th...

Constable: Jer 34:1--45:5 - --D. Incidents surrounding the fall of Jerusalem chs. 34-45
The Book of Consolation contained messages of ...

Constable: Jer 34:1--36:32 - --1. Incidents before the fall of Jerusalem chs. 34-36
The events recorded in these chapters took ...

Constable: Jer 35:1-19 - --The lesson of the Rechabites ch. 35
The theme of Judah's faithlessness carries over from...
