Chapter 35

1 By the obedience of the Rechabites, 12 Jeremiah condemneth the disobedience of the Jews. 18 God blesseth the Rechabites for their obedience.

1. In the days of Jehoiakim. The experience recorded in ch. 35 occurred in an earlier period of Jeremiah’s ministry, shortly before the Babylonians came against Jerusalem (see PK 423).

2. Rechabites. The founder of this family was Jonadab, or Jehonadab (v. 6), who lived in the days of Jehu, king of Samaria (841–814 b.c.), about 240 years earlier. It is evident that his influence was so great that Jehu was glad to have him on his side, and Jonadab was equally glad to be with Jehu because of his “zeal for the Lord” (see 2 Kings 10:15, 16). Jonadab insisted that his followers adopt a strict manner of living.

4. Into the chamber. These rooms, or apartments, attached to the Temple (1 Kings 6:5) were apparently assigned to important priests or prophets; here to “the sons of Hanan.” The phrase, “man of God,” implies that the one so named was a prophet (see 1 Sam. 2:27; 1 Kings 13:1; 20:28; 2 Kings 4:7, 9).

The princes. Undoubtedly some official, nonpriestly dignitaries, who made the Temple precincts their permanent place of abode (see ch. 36:10).

Maaseiah. Probably the father of Zephaniah, “the second [or deputy] priest” (chs. 21:1; 29:25; 52:24).

6. We will drink no wine. Throughout life the Rechabites were like the Nazirites (see on Num. 6:2–5), a separate people, living apart from cities and refraining from holding property.

11. When Nebuchadrezzar. For the spelling, see on Dan. 1:1. Apologetically the Rechabites explained that they were forced to come temporarily to the city of Jerusalem with the other country dwellers of Judah, because of the Babylonian invasion (Jer. 4:6; 8:14; cf. 2 Kings 24:1, 2).

13. Lord of hosts. See on ch. 7:3.

Receive instruction. In striking contrast to the Rechabites, who had persisted faithfully for centuries in obeying the rule of their father, Jonadab, “the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem,” though purporting to be the children of God, persistently refused “to hearken” to divine counsel (see on chs. 7:13).

15. Rising up early. See on ch. 7:13.

17. Because I have spoken. That this complaint of the Lord is justified is repeatedly stated by many of God’s teachers and prophets (see Prov. 1:24; Isa. 65:12; 66:4; Jer. 7:13; 25:4–7; etc.)

18. Because ye have obeyed. What God is particularly commending here is the constancy and faithfulness the Rechabites exhibited in holding to a human law.

19. Not want a man. Such promises are, of course, conditional on the continued fidelity of the descendants (see on 1 Kings 2:4). The loyalty of the sons of Rechad to the abstemious life enjoined upon them was a stern rebuke to the apostate and profligate people of Judah as a whole.

Ellen G. White comments

1–19PK 423–425; 4T 174–176

6     PK 423; 4T 174

12–14PK 423; 4T 174

14, 15  4T 164

14–17PK 424

14–194T 175

17   4T 164

18, 19  PK 425