The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah 35 The obedience of the Rechabites is given to Judah as an example

The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah 35

The obedience of the Rechabites is given to Judah as an example

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying:

2 “Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak to them, and bring them to the house of the Lord, to one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.”

3 So I took Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers, and all their sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;

4 And I brought them to the house of the Lord, to the chamber of the sons of Hanan, son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which is next to the chamber of the princes, which is above the chamber of Maaseiah son of Shallum, the keeper of the portico.

5 And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of wine, and cups, and said to them, “Drink wine.” 

6 But they said, “We will not drink wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons;

7 You shall not build houses, nor sow seed, nor plant or possess any vineyard; but you shall dwell in tents all your days, that you may live many days on the face of the earth where you are sojournings.’”

8 So we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us; therefore we have not drunk wine all our days, neither we, nor our wives, nor our sons, nor our daughters.

9 Nor have we built houses for our habitation; nor have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed.

10 But we dwell in tents, and so we have obeyed and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.

11 Now it happened that when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to this land, we said, “Come, let us go to Jerusalem because of the army of the Chaldeans and because of the army of the Syrians.” So we stayed in Jerusalem.

12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying:

13 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Will you not receive instruction to listen to my words?’ says the Lord.

14 The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, who commanded his sons not to drink wine, have been kept, for they have not drunk to this day, but have obeyed the commandment of their father; but I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, and you have not listened to me.’”

15 And I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, “Turn now, every one of you, from your evil way, and amend your doings, and do not follow other gods to serve them, and you shall dwell in the land which I gave to you and to your fathers.” But you did not incline your ear, nor did you obey me.

16 Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the commandment of their father which he commanded them, but this people have not obeyed me:

17 Therefore thus says the Lord, 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 spoke to them, and they did not listen; and I called to them, and they did not answer.”

18 And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and have kept all his commandments, and have done according to all that he commanded you,

19 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: There shall not fail a man of Jonadab the son of Rechab to stand before Me forever.”