Jeremiah 35
OGCREVIEW OF CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I. Facts to Master
The time of the events recorded in chapter 34 (Jeremiah 34:1; Jeremiah 34:6-7).
Summary of Jeremiah’s message to king Zedekiah (Jeremiah 34:2-5).
The covenant which the nobles of Jerusalem made and then broke (Jeremiah 34:8-11).
The law regarding Hebrew slaves (Jeremiah 34:14).
The threat as regards the Chaldean army (Jeremiah 34:22).
The time when the incident recorded in chapter 35 took place (Jeremiah 35:1).
The group that Jeremiah was to take to the temple (Jeremiah 35:2).
That which Jeremiah was to offer these people (Jeremiah 35:2).
The distinguishing characteristics of the Rechabites (Jeremiah 35:6-7).
Name of the forefather who gave the Rechabites these commands (Jeremiah 35:6).
The blessing pronounced on the Rechabites be cause of their faithfulness to the command of their father. (Jeremiah 35:19).
The year when Jeremiah first committed his messages to writing (Jeremiah 36:1).
The length of time Jeremiah had thus far been preaching (Jeremiah 36:1).
The one to whom Jeremiah dictated the scroll (Jeremiah 36:4),
The reason Jeremiah could not himself proclaim the Word in the temple (Jeremiah 36:5-6).
That which the princes advise Baruch to do when they heard the words of the scroll (Jeremiah 36:19)
Time and place of the reading of the scroll be fore the king (Jeremiah 36:9; Jeremiah 36:22).
Reaction of Jehoiakim to the reading of the scroll (Jeremiah 36:23)
Commandment which came to Jeremiah after the destruction of the scroll (Jeremiah 36:27 ff.).
Prophecy regarding king Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 36:30).
II. Questions to Ponder
From independent research what can you discover about the famous Lachish Letters? Is Jeremiah mentioned in these letters?
What is meant by the burning of the fathers? (Jeremiah 34:5).
Why did the Jerusalem nobles suddenly release their Hebrew slaves and then just as suddenly re-enslave them? (Jeremiah 34:8-11).
What is meant by the expression cut the calf in twain and passed between the parts thereof? (Jeremiah 34:18).
Why is a covenant so sacred? (Jeremiah 34:15-16).
What valuable lessons can be learned from the Rechabites? Why were they in Jerusalem? Why does Jeremiah offer them wine? (Jeremiah 35:1-11).
What details can be deduced from chapter 36 about how a Biblical book was produced?
Jehoiakim has been called the first higher critic of the Bible. Is this an appropriate designation?
Chapter 36 contains the first recorded attempt to destroy the word of God. At what other periods of history have rulers attacked Scripture?
What Chapter s of the present book of Jeremiah were likely included in the scroll Jeremiah dictated to Baruch? How did the second edition of the book differ from the first?
Jeremiah 35:1-11
A. The Fidelity of the Rechabites Jeremiah 35:1-11
TRANSLATION
(1) The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, (2) Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them to the house of the LORD unto one of the chambers, and offer them wine to drink. (3) And I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites. (4) And I brought them to the house of the LORD, unto the chamber of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which is beside the chamber of the princes, above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the threshold. (5) And I placed before the sons of the house of Rechabites bowls full of wine, and cups; and I said unto them, Drink wine! (6) And they responded, We do not drink wine for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, Do not drink wine, you nor your sons, forever. (7) Furthermore do not build houses, sow seed, plant vineyards or own any such; but you shall dwell in tents all of your days, in order that your days may be many upon the face of the land in which you are sojourning. (8) And we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, every word which he commanded us, not to drink wine all of our days, neither we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters, (9) nor to build houses in which to dwell; and we do not possess vineyards, fields or seed. (10) We dwell in tents, and we have obeyed, and done everything which Jonadab our father commanded us. (11) But it came to pass, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon went up against the land, that we said, Come and let us go to Jerusalem because of the army of the Chaldeans and Arameans. So we dwell in Jerusalem.
COMMENTS
Jeremiah used many different methods to communicate God’s truth to men. In the present instance he uses a dramatic demonstration involving a whole clan to drive home the truth to the people of Judah. The Rechabites are one of the most interesting groups mentioned in the Bible. They were apparently of Kenite descent (1 Chronicles 2:55) and had joined the Israelites at the time of the Exodus from Egypt (Judges 1:16). It was Jehonadab (or Jonadab) the son of Rechab who gave to the name Rechabite its special connotation.
Jehonadab first appears in 2 Kings 9:15-31 as a militant worshiper of Yahweh. He participated in the revolution of 841 B.C. when the zealot Jehu overthrew the dynasty of Omri in the northern kingdom of Israel. Apparently the excesses of Ahab and Jezebel, the importation of the worship of the Tyrian Baal, the disintegration of ancient social patterns and the wide-spread debauchery so completely upset certain conservative elements of the population that they were ready to take drastic steps to preserve the old values. Jehonadab had imposed rather strict regulations upon his descendants. But even though some 200 years had elapsed the Rechabites were still living by the rule of their father. Normally a nomadic group, the Rechabites had recently sought refuge in Jerusalem from the roving bands of Chaldeans and Syrians which were making repeated raids on the Jews living outside the walled cities (Jeremiah 35:11).
The narrative begins with Jeremiah receiving instruction to seek out the members of the Rechabite community.[302] In obedience to this command Jeremiah contacted Jaazaniah, the present leader of the sect, and invited him and the members of his clan to come to the Temple (Jeremiah 35:2). Scripture does not state whether or not Jeremiah informed Jaazaniah as to the purpose of the Temple visit but the impression is left that what transpired there came as somewhat of a surprise to the Rechabites.
[302] Literally, Go to the house of the Rechabites. House here does not refer to a dwelling but to members of a clan or, better still, a community.
Jeremiah chose the chamber of the sons of Hanan the man of God[303] as the spot for the demonstration (Jeremiah 35:4). A number of chambers were arranged around the courts of the Temple and served partly as storehouses and partly as residences for priests and other Temple personnel.[304] No doubt this particular chamber was able to accommodate several persons. It certainly was located in a prominent place being next to the chamber of the princes and just above the chamber of Maaseiah, the keeper of the door.[305] This would be a most advantageous spot for an object lesson to be seen by the leaders of Jerusalem. The fact that Hanan (or his sons) lent the room to Jeremiah on this occasion indicates that some high ranking officials of the nation were in sympathy with the prophet.
[303] The title man of God was an honorable title of the prophets. It was applied to Samuel (1 Samuel 9:6-10), Elijah (2 Kings 1:9-13), Elisha (2 Kings 4-13) and others. The term occurs only here in Jeremiah. Perhaps Hanan was a prophet. If so, his sons may have been his disciples. See Streane, op cit., p. 237.
[304] See 1 Chronicles 9:27; Ezekiel 40:17; Nehemiah 10:37-39.
[305] The keeper of the door was an important priestly function. There were three of these officials corresponding to the number of gates of the Temple (Jeremiah 52:24; 2 Kings 25:18). They seem to have been in charge of money contributed for the Temple (2 Kings 12:9).
After a crowd of witnesses, probably including Temple officials, had assembled Jeremiah placed before the Rechabites large bowls of wine together with drinking cups and told them to drink (Jeremiah 35:5). This is no example of placing a temptation before a weaker brother. It was not Jeremiah’s intention to entice these ascetics into sin. He knew that the Rechabites had committed themselves to a rigorous rule of life that included the abstinence from all fruit of the vine.[306] It was their loyalty and obedience to this way of life that Jeremiah wished to vividly portray before the national leaders. So he offered them wine and, as expected, the Rechabites vigorously declined the invitation to drink.[307] They offered a reason for their refusal. Jonadab, the ancestor of their clan, had commanded them (1) not to drink wine; (2) not to build houses; and (3) not to engage in agricultural pursuits (Jeremiah 35:6-7). The descendants of Jonadab had compiled with these commandments for over 200 years (Jeremiah 35:8-10). Surely this is one of the most noted examples of the influence of a father in all the annals of history! They wish it to be clearly understood that their presence in Jerusalem does not indicate unfaithfulness to principle. Only for the sake of self-preservation had they sought refuge in the city. Bands of Chaldeans and Syrians pillaging the countryside had forced these gentle people to temporarily take Up residence behind the protective walk of the capital (Jeremiah 35:11).
[306] At this point the Rechabites have something in common with the Nazarites who also abstained from all fruit of the vine. There is no indication, however, that the Rechabites did not cut their hair or avoided contact with dead bodies as was the case with the Nazarites. [307] The use of the Hebrew imperfect in the Rechabite refusal implies customary action and can be translated: We never drink wine.
The Rechabites were a people who desired the simple pastoral life. But there is more involved. By their practices they were protesting the corruption which they observed in the sedentary population about them. The excessive drinking and wild harvest-time orgies associated with Baal worship were repulsive to Jonadab. Since Baal was an agricultural deity, the god of the farmer, Jonadab refused to allow members of his clan to sow seed, to plant or to own vineyards. By their austerity the Rechabites were a constant rebuke to those Israelites who succumbed to the tantalizing temptation to join in the sensual worship of Baal. Like the Nazarites, the Rechabites set an example of commitment to God. Even when forced to temporarily seek the safety of Jerusalem, even when confronted by the command of a prophet within the house of God these noble nomads refused to compromise their convictions. Along with their meager belongings the Rechabites had brought their principles to the big city with them. Such convictions and courage were as rare in the sixth century before Christ as they are today. May God grant that the lives of His people today will be a perpetual protest against the debauchery and drunkenness of this world.
Jeremiah commends the Rechabites for being faithful to their vow. This does not, of course, mean that Jeremiah shared their sentiments in every respect or regarded their way of life as a model that all should follow. Jeremiah spent most of his life in Jerusalem, lived in a house, presumably drank wine (it was the common daily beverage), and owned land (Jeremiah 32:1-15). The main point here is that the faithful obedience of the Rechabites is pleasing to God. They were a living rebuke to a faithless and disobedient nation.
Jeremiah 35:12-15
B. The Faithlessness of the Jews Jeremiah 35:12-15
TRANSLATION
(12) And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying, (13) Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the man of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Will you not accept correction to obey My words (oracle of the LORD)? (14) The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons that they drink no wine, have been carried out. Unto this day they drink no wine, because they obeyed the commandment of their father. But I have spoken unto you earnestly and persistently; yet you have not hearkened unto Me! (15) With urgency and persistency I sent unto you all My servants the prophets who said, Turn please each man from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, then you shall continue to dwell in the land which I gave to you and to your fathers; but you would not pay any attention or obey Me.
COMMENTS
The presence of an eccentric group like the Rechabites in the Temple area must have created quite a sensation in Jerusalem. No doubt a crowd quickly assembled in the courtyard outside the chamber of the sons of Hanan. Apparently Jeremiah left the chamber where the demonstration had taken place and went out to address the people in the Temple court. He minces no words as he drives home the spiritual lesson. Pointedly God asks through His messenger, -Will you not receive instruction to hearken to My words? Will you not learn from the Rechabites the lesson of obedience to My word? (Jeremiah 35:13). For over 200 years the Rechabite clan had obeyed the command of a dead ancestor even though his commandment was merely a matter of human judgment. But time and again the living God had spoken to His people, yet they had ignored or deliberately disobeyed His commandments (Jeremiah 35:14). Again and again God had sent unto them prophets who pleaded with the rebellious people to repent and turn from idolatry and who promised them that they could continue to dwell in their land if they would only hearken to the voice of God. But the people had refused to hearken and on occasion actually had reviled and ridiculed the servants of God (Jeremiah 35:15). They had persisted in their rebellion against the Lord.
Jeremiah 35:16-19
C. The Fate of the Rechabites and the Jews Jeremiah 35:16-19
TRANSLATION
(16) Because the sons of Jonadab the Son of Rechab have kept the commandment of their ancestor, and this people have not obeyed Me, (17) therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am about to bring against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the calamity which I have spoken against them; because I have spoken unto them and they did not obey, I called out to them but they did not answer. (18) And to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your ancestor, and you have kept all his commandments, and have done everything which he commanded you; (19) therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever.
COMMENTS
In view of the fact that Judah had ignored or spurned all efforts of God to turn them back from apostasy, God is compelled to execute judgment upon the nation. God declares: I will bring upon Judah and Jerusalem all the evil (calamity) that I have pronounced against them (Jeremiah 35:17). Just before bringing the children of Israel into Canaan God had warned His people through Moses that remaining in possession of that land flowing with milk and honey was contingent upon their faithfulness (Deuteronomy 28). Every prophet from Amos onwards had reminded the nation of this fact. The fall of Samaria in 722 B.C. should have served as empirical proof of the proposition. Yet Judah plunged even deeper into apostasy. There was no other alternative. Judah must be punished, her population deported and her land made desolate. The contrast in Jeremiah 35:16-17 is great: a small obscure clan faithful to the word of their forefather on the one hand; an entire nation unfaithful to the word of their heavenly Father on the other. Surely the impending judgment was justified.
The passage concludes with a word of commendation for the Rechabites. Because they had faithfully observed the commandments of their father, Jonadab shall not want a man to stand before Me forever (Jeremiah 35:18-19). To stand before anyone in Old Testament thought is to function as a servant to that person. Thus the promise here is that throughout the ages there would always be obedient servants of the Lord among the descendants of Jonadab. It is not easy to determine in what way the Lord fulfilled His promise to the Rechabites. Some missionaries and travelers report having encountered Rechabites in Yemen and Mesopotamia.[308] Perhaps it is better, however, to think in terms of a spiritual fulfillment of the promise. Throughout history there have been and will be spiritual descendants of the Rechabites who remain true to their convictions and separate themselves from the sinfulness of the world.
[308] Naglesbach, op. cit., p. 308.