8. all that he . . . charged us . . . all our days, we . . . wives . . . sons . . . daughters—unreserved obedience in all particulars, at all times, and on the part of all, without exception: in these respects Israel's obedience to God was wanting. Contrast 1 Samuel 15:20; 1 Samuel 15:21; Psalms 78:34-37; Psalms 78:41; Psalms 78:56; Psalms 78:57. read more
The meeting with the Rechabites 35:1-11 read more
The Rechabites explained that they had obeyed their ancestor’s commands faithfully since the time he gave them (cf. Exodus 20:12). For over 200 years they had been faithful and obedient (cf. 2 Kings 10:15-27). read more
Jeremiah’s Nineteenth Prophecy (Reign of Jehoiakim). The Obedience of the RechabitesThis and Jeremiah 36 form a break in the narrative, bringing us back from the tenth year of Zedekiah to the insecurity which followed upon Nebuchadnezzars victory of Carchemish (fourth year of Jehoiakim), when predatory bands of Chaldeans and others had compelled many of the inhabitants of Palestine to take refuge within Jerusalem. Among these were the Rechabites, a nomadic tribe of Kenite descent. The prophet... read more
(6-8) We will drink no wine . . .—We have here, as it were, the rule of the tribe or order which looked to Jonadab as its founder. Like Samson (Judges 13:4-5), Samuel (inferentially from 1 Samuel 1:11; 1 Samuel 1:15), and the Baptist (Luke 1:15), they were life-long Nazarites (Numbers 6:1-6). Jonadab’s intention was obviously to keep them as a separate people, retaining their nomadic form of life, free from the contamination of cities, or the temptations of acquired property, or the risks of... read more
CHAPTER IVTHE RECHABITESJeremiah 35:1-19"Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before Me forever."- Jeremiah 35:19THIS incident is dated "in the days of Jehoiakim." We learn from Jeremiah 35:11 that it happened at a time when the open country of Judah was threatened by the advance of Nebuchadnezzar with a Chaldean and Syrian army. If Nebuchadnezzar marched into the south of Palestine immediately after the battle of Carchemish, the incident may have happened, as some suggest,... read more
CHAPTER 35 The Faithful Rechabites and the Unfaithful Jews 1. The command concerning the Rechabites (Jeremiah 35:1-11 ) 2. The lesson for the Jews (Jeremiah 35:12-19 ) The Rechabites were Kenites and were numbered with the children of Israel 1 Chronicles 2:55 . During the reign of Jehoiakim the incident of this chapter happened. The critics may rave against the “unchronological” construction of Jeremiah jumping from one period into another, but there we see the guiding hand of the Spirit... read more
MORE MESSAGES FOR JEHOIAKIM This lesson opens with the story of the Rechabites (chap. 35). Jeremiah 35:6-7 show the origin of their name and their “order,” to quote a modern term. The principles of the latter were (1) abstinence form strong drink; (2) voluntary poverty; and (3) a nomadic life. Jeremiah 35:11 gives the explanation of their presence in Jerusalem. Jeremiah 35:12-17 furnish the cause for Jeremiah’s action in the premises, who is to use these followers of Rechab as a kind of... read more
The Rechabites Jeremiah 35:0 This part of the prophecy takes us back to the earlier years of Jeremiah's life and work. Jerusalem had not been besieged, and Jehoiakim the king had not filled up the cup of his iniquity. The Lord wished to read the king and the people of Judah a solemn lesson; and he preferred to do so by way of example rather than by way of precept. He took what to us appears to be an extraordinary course; but the issue proved that the course which the Almighty adopted was... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 35:1-19
35:1-45:5 EVENTS IN JUDAH AND EGYPTA lesson from the Rechabites (35:1-19)Events recorded in the book of Jeremiah are not in chronological order, and Jeremiah now takes the readers back to the reign of Jehoiakim. He recounts a story concerning the Rechabites, a community of local tribal people who lived peaceably among the Israelites (1 Chronicles 2:55). The Rechabites were forbidden by their long-standing customs to drink wine. They were true worshippers of Yahweh and were fiercely anti-Baal... read more