Jeremiah 35

By the obedience of tho Ilechabites to their fathers’ commands, the Jews’ disobedience to God’s commands is condemned.

Jeremiah 35:1

x HE word which came to Jeremiah — in the days of Jehoiakim. This may most probably be referred to the fourth year of Jchoiakim’s reign, when Nebuchadnezzar, having beaten the king of Egypt’s army at Euphrates, (see xlvi. 2.) marched towards Syria and Palestine, to recover those provinces again which the king of Egypt had conquered: (see 2 Kings xxiii. 33, 31. compared with xxiv. 7.) in which expedition he laid siege to Jerusalem. (See Dan. i. 1. and vcr. 11. of this chapter.)

Jeremiah 35:2

Ga unto the house of the Rechabites. The Ilechabites were descended from the Kenites: (1 Chron. ii. 55.) they never were incorporated with the Jewish nation; (see below, ver. 7.) but yet were looked upon as their friends and allies:. (see 1 Sam. xv. G.) and a respect was paid to them for the sake of Hobab, Moses’s father-in-law, who was of that nation. (Judg.. iY. 11.) They were worshippers of the true God, though they were not circumcised. (See the following verse, and 2 Kings x. 15, 1G.) And bring them into the house of the Lord.] Into one of the chambers which join to the temple. (See ver. 4.) By this it appears that the Ilechabites were not idolaters, for it was not lawful for such persons to come within the precincts of the temple.

Jeremiah 35:4

I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the chamber of Hanan, &c. There were several chambers 7 adjoining to the temple, for the uset of the priests and Levites, during the time of their ministration; and as repositories for laying up the holy vestments and vessels, and whatever stores were necessary for the daily sacrifices, and* the other parts of the temple-service. (Compare xxxvi. 10. 1 Kings vi. 5. 1 Chron. ix. 27. 30.) Width was by the chamber of the princes.] Where the- Sanhedrin, or great council, used to assemble. (See xxvi. 10.) The Sanhedrin always sat in some great room adjoining to the temple. (See Dr. Lightfoot’s Description of the Temple, chap. 0. 22.) Above the.chamber of Maaseiah — keeper of the door.] i.e. One of the keepers: for there were several Lcvites appointed for that office, both to open and shut the gates of the temple in due time, and likewise to attend at tbem all day, for preventing any tiling that might happen to the prejudice of the purity or safety of that holy place. (See 1, Chron. ix. 18, 19. xxvi. 12, 13; &c. 2 Chron. viii. 14. 2 Kings xii. 9. xxv. 18.) Some of these officers had likewise the custody of the holy vessels. (See Hi; 24. 1 Chron. ix. 2G.) Vcr. G. For Jonadab the son ofRechab, our father, commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no tvine, &c] Jonadab was a considerable man of this family: (see 2 Kings x. 15.) and his design was to reduce his family to the primitive manner of life, which was that of shepherds,, living in tents, having no certain habitation, and taking caro only