Jeremiah Chapter 35

At a Glance

  • Jeremiah 35 presents a counterintuitive portrait of obedience through the Rechabites, a nomadic clan who have preserved strict family rules handed down by Jonadab, their father.
  • The Rechabite narrative is unusual in Jeremiah, functioning as a didactic parable within prophetic critique.
  • - Fidelity to instruction vs.
  • - The value and limits of tradition: human commands can be noble but cannot replace divine law.
  • - Prophetic critique of social and spiritual rigidity that misses justice.

Jeremiah 35 presents a counterintuitive portrait of obedience through the Rechabites, a nomadic clan who have preserved strict family rules handed down by Jonadab, their father. Jeremiah is commanded to bring them into the temple elite spaces and offer them wine, which they refuse to drink. The Rechabites’ vow—avoid wine, do not build houses, live in tents, and refrain from vineyards—seems archaic, even eccentric to Jeremiah’s audience. Yet their steadfast adherence to their father’s command stands in stark contrast to Judah’s disobedience to God. Jeremiah uses this juxtaposition to challenge the people of Judah: will they listen to My words and commands as faithfully as the Rechabites listened to their father’s instructions? The narrative describes the Rechabites’ fear of Jerusalem’s military threat, choosing to dwell in Jerusalem rather than move to the fields, illustrating faithful resilience in displacement and vulnerability.

The Lord uses this as a teachable moment: the Rechabites’ faithfulness in inherited commands is commendable, but the people of Judah have refused God’s words, disregarding exhortations to obedience and righteousness. This chapter functions as a critique of moral laxity and a call to anchored fidelity to divine instruction. The contrast invites readers to reflect on the sources of cultural and religious life: human tradition versus divine command, external appearances versus internal obedience, and the test of faith in God’s stated will.

The Rechabite narrative is unusual in Jeremiah, functioning as a didactic parable within prophetic critique. The Rechabites’ tradition, preserved across generations, represents a monastic-like vow network rooted in a family tradition, which the prophets use to probe spiritual posture. The broader context remains Jerusalem’s siege and the people’s need to evaluate what counts as true obedience. The juxtaposition of a family-led ancient pledge with Israel’s covenant violations intensifies the polemic: sincere fidelity to lesser human laws does not substitute for fidelity to God’s commandments. The genre blends narrative episode with prophetic exhortation, culminating in a direct message from God about listening to His words rather than human tradition alone. The chapter thus uses an unconventional parable to steer readers toward repentance and renewed obedience.

- Fidelity to instruction vs. complacent religiosity.

- The value and limits of tradition: human commands can be noble but cannot replace divine law.

- Prophetic critique of social and spiritual rigidity that misses justice.

- The call to heed God’s word above cultural expectations.

Jeremiah 35 invites contemporary readers to examine their own traditions and routines: do we honor human ancestral wisdom while neglecting God’s directives? It challenges individuals and communities to test whether their moral life aligns with Scripture rather than merely with long-standing customs. The Rechabites’ discipline can inspire commitment to core practices that sustain faith over time, yet the text also warns that external obedience to tradition is not sufficient if it does not translate into obedience to God. Practically, this could mean re-evaluating church practices, governance, and social ethics to ensure they reflect biblical priorities—merciful justice, humility before God, and a readiness to change when God calls for it.

- 1 Samuel 15:22 (obedience over sacrifice)

- Hosea 6:6 (desire for steadfast love over ritual)

- Micah 6:8 (do justice, love kindness)

- Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (to love and teach God’s commands)

- Luke 11:28 (blessed are those who hear the word and keep it)

- Jesus (fulfillment of true obedience and heart posture)

- Paul (the value of faith working through love)

- Moses (law and covenant fidelity)

- The Rechabite father Jonadab (to understand tradition’s strength)

- A prophetic teacher (to interpret obedience rightly)

Key Themes

Fidelity to instruction vs. complacent religiosity.The value and limits of tradition: human commands can be noble but cannot replace divine law.Prophetic critique of social and spiritual rigidity that misses justice.The call to heed God’s word above cultural expectations.

Chapter Text

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 into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.

3

Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;

4

And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door:

5

And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine.

6

But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever:

7

Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers.

8

Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;

9

Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:

10

But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.

11

But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem.

12

Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,

13

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD.

14

The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me.

15

I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.

16

Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me:

17

Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.

18

And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you:

19

Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.

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