Jeremiah 35
Summary for Jer 35:1-36:32: 35:1–36:32 a These two chapters look back two decades to the time when Jehoiakim was on the throne.Summary for Jer 35:1-19: 35:1-19 b The Recabites’ obedience to their ancestor contrasted sharply with the Israelites’ rebellion against the Lord their God. 35:1 c This incident took place during Jehoiakim’s reign, when the Babylonian army first attacked Jerusalem (605 BC; see 35:11 d).
35:2 e The Recabites were descendants of Jehonadab son of Recab, a Kenite who had served under Jehu, king of Israel (2 Kgs 10:15 f, 23 g; 1 Chr 2:55 h). Jeremiah probably knew that the Recabites did not drink wine, but he obeyed the Lord’s command.
35:3 i The Jeremiah mentioned here was not the prophet; he and the others represented the Recabite community.
35:4 j Jeremiah the prophet carefully described the location of the room in the Temple, taking note that Hanan, the man in charge, was a man of God. During this idolatrous time in Judah’s history, the prophet had some friends in high places who remained believers in the one true God.
Summary for Jer 35:6-10: 35:6-10 k Jehonadab had bound his descendants to a nomadic lifestyle free of the trappings of sedentary life, and the Recabites had been obedient.
Summary for Jer 35:12-19: 35:12-19 l The Lord applied the Recabites’ example in stark contrast to the people of Judah. The Recabites had been deprived of many good things in life, yet they remained obedient.
Summary for Jer 35:14-16: 35:14-16 m The Recabites never drank wine, simply because their human ancestor had told them not to. The people of Israel should have been even more willing to listen and obey when the Lord told them to turn from their wicked ways and live according to his laws.
Summary for Jer 35:17-19: 35:17-19 n The Lord pronounced punishment on Judah’s sin.
35:19 o One of the descendants of Jehonadab son of Recab apparently returned from Babylon after the Exile and helped to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem (see Neh 3:14 p).
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