Jeremiah 35

Jeremiah 35:1

2. The Rechabites’ Obedience Rewarded (Chap. 35)35:1-11 Jeremiah obeyed the Lord by inviting the Rechabites . . . into the house of the LORD and by offering them wine to drink. The Rechabites courteously refused to drink it because of instructions their father had given them. Also, they had refused to build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, or own vineyards. (They were forced to live in Jerusalem by the advance of the Chaldeans.) They maintained a true pilgrim character. What an example! 35:12-19 In marked contrast were the people of Judah. They were disobedient to God and would be punished. The Rechabites would be rewarded by always having a man to stand before God. The Rechabites were named after Rechab whose son Jonadab was active in aiding Jehu in the expulsion of Baal worship in the Northern Kingdom in 841 B.C. They were a nomadic tribe descended from the Kenites (1Ch_2:55) who had attached themselves to Judah and continued to be associated with them but did not identify with their manner of life (Daily Notes of the Scripture Union). Some think that the Rechabites were absorbed into the tribe of Levi and that this is how God’s promise is fulfilled. Though we cannot identify the Rechabites today, we believe that their identity will become known in the Millennium.