1.
The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
The Thirtieth Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).
came. Jeremiah goes back here to insert a preceding event (See Jeremiah 25:1 ; Jeremiah 26:1 ), in order to complete the correspondence by introducing the second illustration, as shown in the Structure, (Jeremiah 34:8-16 ) and (Jeremiah 35:1-11 ).
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
in the days, &c. Immediately before Nebuchadnezzar's advance, in his fourth year.
2.
Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.
house. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the descendants of Rechab, through Jonadab his son. who became their chieftain and lawgiver. Compare Jeremiah 35:6 .
Rechabites They were descended from Hobab, the brother-inlaw of Moses. A Kenite tribe, who migrated with Israel to Canaan. Compare Numbers 10:29 with Judges 1:16 ; Judges 4:11-17 ; Judges 5:24 . 1 Samuel 15:6 . They were proselytes, not idolaters; inhabiting the wilderness south of Judah.
one of the chambers. There were many, for various purposes of the Temple worship. Compare Jeremiah 36:10 with 1 Kings 6:5 . 1 Chronicles 9:27 . Nehemiah 13:4-12 .
wine. Hebrew. yayin. [fermented wine] App-27 .
3.
Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;
4.
And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door:
Igdaliah. See note on Psalms 90:1 .
a man of God = the man (Hebrew. 'ish , App-14 .) of God (Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .): i.e. a prophet. See App-49 .
Maaseiah, &c. He was the deputy of the High Priest. Compare Jeremiah 52:24 . 2 Kings 25:18 . Probably the same whose son Zephaniah, after the carrying away of Maaseiah with Jehoiachin (Jeremiah 29:1 ), held office under Zedekiah (Jeremiah 21:1 ; Jeremiah 29:5 ; Jeremiah 37:3 ).
keeper of the door = keeper of the threshold. There were three. See 2 Kings 25:18 . 2 Chronicles 31:14 .
5.
And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine.
pots = bowls.
6.
But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever:
for ever = unto times age-abiding.
7.
Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers.
build. This was as essential as the former injunction.
live many days, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:12 ). App-92 .
in the land = on the soil.
8.
Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;
9.
Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:
10.
But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.
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.
When, &c. They explain why they did not carry out the latter part of their vow (Jeremiah 35:7 ).
Syrians. This is the only place where they are mentioned with the Chaldeans. They had been made subject to Assyria long before; (Isaiah 9:12 ). After the fall of Nineveh they came under the yoke of Babylon.
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.
The Thirty-First Prophecy of Jeremiah (see book comments for Jeremiah).
the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 7:3 . men. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .
saith the Lord = [is] Jehovah's oracle.
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.
rising early and speaking. See note on Jeremiah 7:13 .
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.
every man. Hebrew ' Ish . App-14 .
evil. Hebrew. raa. App-44 .
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:
Because, &c. They are praised for their obedience, without reference to the nature of the command. Jonadab is not justified by this for imposing his will on all his posterity.
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.
the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel = Jehovah Elohim Zeba'oth, Elohim of Israel. See App-4 . This is the fullest (and therefore the most solemn) use of this Divine title. Occurs in this book only three times (here, Jeremiah 38:17 , and Jeremiah 44:7 ).
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos . App-6 . Used to emphasize further what follows.
evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
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.
for ever = all the days.