Jer 35:7 | KingComments | STEP | However, the Rechabites refuse to drink of the wine that Jeremiah has set before them ( ). They refuse not because the LORD would have forbidden them to drink wine. They refuse because their ancestor Jonadab forbade them to do so. He not only forbade it to his own children, but gave the prohibition for his entire posterity, forever. Their lifestyle resembles that of the Nazirite ( ). Jonadab lived during the time of Jehu, who had to exterminate the house of Ahab ( ). Here we are about two and a half centuries later. Jehu found an ally in Jonadab. Jonadab did not participate in the worship of Baal. He is one of the seven thousand who did not bow their knee to Baal ( ). The faithfulness to the word of Jonadab is great. The time of Jehu is a time of great wickedness. During that time, Jonadab wants to live as a true Nazirite. He does not want to go along with the trend of the times and he wants his children to live like that as well. This does not mean that they are hermits, but people who are aware of the temporal nature of life and entrust themselves to the LORD for that. Obedience to Jonadab’s words does not only involve not drinking wine. He also told them not to build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard or take possession of a piece of land ( ). The command is to live in tents as long as they live. As a result, they will live many days in the land where they are staying as strangers. Jonadab was aware of his foreignness and lived consistently accordingly. He has lived as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and as a Nazirite. This he also told his descendants, and they complied ( ). They listened to his voice, they, their wives and their sons and daughters, and drank no wine. They repeated everything Jonadab commanded them and said they have obeyed and have done according to all that Jonadab commanded them. They did not build houses to live in. Nor did they have a vineyard or a field, not even seed ( ). In tents they dwelt according to the word of their forefather Jonadab ( ). Driven by circumstances, they came to give up life in tents and live in Jerusalem ( ). This is not disobedience to the word of their forefather. They are acting with deliberation here, exchanging nomadic life for life in the city for the sake of safety. But they keep the commandment not to drink wine.

‏ Jeremiah 35:7

Loyalty of the Rechabites to Jonadab

However, the Rechabites refuse to drink of the wine that Jeremiah has set before them (Jer 35:6). They refuse not because the LORD would have forbidden them to drink wine. They refuse because their ancestor Jonadab forbade them to do so. He not only forbade it to his own children, but gave the prohibition for his entire posterity, forever. Their lifestyle resembles that of the Nazirite (Num 6:1-7).

Jonadab lived during the time of Jehu, who had to exterminate the house of Ahab (2Kgs 10:11-17). Here we are about two and a half centuries later. Jehu found an ally in Jonadab. Jonadab did not participate in the worship of Baal. He is one of the seven thousand who did not bow their knee to Baal (1Kgs 19:18).

The faithfulness to the word of Jonadab is great. The time of Jehu is a time of great wickedness. During that time, Jonadab wants to live as a true Nazirite. He does not want to go along with the trend of the times and he wants his children to live like that as well. This does not mean that they are hermits, but people who are aware of the temporal nature of life and entrust themselves to the LORD for that.

Obedience to Jonadab’s words does not only involve not drinking wine. He also told them not to build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard or take possession of a piece of land (Jer 35:7). The command is to live in tents as long as they live. As a result, they will live many days in the land where they are staying as strangers. Jonadab was aware of his foreignness and lived consistently accordingly. He has lived as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and as a Nazirite.

This he also told his descendants, and they complied (Jer 35:8). They listened to his voice, they, their wives and their sons and daughters, and drank no wine. They repeated everything Jonadab commanded them and said they have obeyed and have done according to all that Jonadab commanded them. They did not build houses to live in. Nor did they have a vineyard or a field, not even seed (Jer 35:9). In tents they dwelt according to the word of their forefather Jonadab (Jer 35:10).

Driven by circumstances, they came to give up life in tents and live in Jerusalem (Jer 35:11). This is not disobedience to the word of their forefather. They are acting with deliberation here, exchanging nomadic life for life in the city for the sake of safety. But they keep the commandment not to drink wine.