“Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak with them and bring them to the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers; then offer them wine to drink.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah isn't just bringing the Rechabites to the Temple to give them wine; he's bringing them into the most sacred space to witness their obedience, creating a powerful, living sermon for the people of Judah and Jerusalem. This deliberate placement in the Temple highlights the stark contrast between the Rechabites' faithfulness to their human father's commands and the people's disobedience to God.
“Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak with them and bring them to the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers; then offer them wine to drink.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Jeremiah is commanded by God to bring the Rechabites, a nomadic group known for their strict adherence to their ancestors' commands, into the Temple. There, he is to offer them wine, which their forefather Jonadab had forbidden them and their descendants to drink. This dramatic scene is set during a time when the people of Judah are increasingly ignoring God's word and are prone to idolatry and luxury.
Imagine living by rules set by an ancestor who died nearly 300 years ago! The Rechabites did just that, making their adherence to their father's unusual commands a cornerstone of their identity.
The Rechabites, descended from Jonadab son of Rechab, were instructed to "drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever" (Jeremiah 35:6). This wasn't just a suggestion; it was a foundational principle for their nomadic lifestyle.
A Life of Austerity
Jonadab's commands went beyond just abstaining from wine. His descendants were also told:
This extreme dedication to their ancestral way of life, even when it meant living as strangers in the land, highlights a profound loyalty to their forefather's vision.
Why would God instruct Jeremiah to offer wine to a group dedicated to abstaining from it, right in the Temple? It was a powerful, dramatic lesson for a disobedient nation.
Jeremiah was specifically commanded to bring the Rechabites into the house of the LORD and offer them wine (Jeremiah 35:2). This wasn't about forcing them to drink, but about creating a stark contrast.
Ask a follow-up
The Purpose of the Encounter
The Rechabites' faithfulness to a mortal man earned them a remarkable promise from the LORD of Hosts. What does this reveal about God's perspective on obedience?
The Rechabites' strict adherence to Jonadab's commands, even after centuries, drew God's attention and a significant promise.
A Promise of Enduring Presence
Jeremiah declares, "Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever" (Jeremiah 35:19).
Understand the original words
Rekabi · Hebrew Proper Noun
A nomadic or semi-nomadic group known for their strict adherence to the commands of their ancestor Jonadab, particularly the prohibition against drinking wine and living in houses. They serve as a foil to the disobedience of the Israelites.
bayit YHWH · Hebrew Noun Phrase
The physical structure in Jerusalem built by Solomon, serving as the central place of sacrifice, prayer, and the dwelling place of God's presence among His people under the Old Covenant.
yayin · Hebrew Noun
Fermented juice of grapes, frequently used in the Bible as a symbol of joy and celebration, but also subject to regulations regarding its use, especially concerning priests and Nazirites.
This event highlights how a nomadic tribe, the Rechabites, rigorously followed the centuries-old commands of their human ancestor, Jonadab, in stark contrast to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, who were consistently disobeying the direct commands of the living God. This powerful object lesson was meant to shame Judah into repentance by demonstrating that even a foreign, less-favored group could exhibit greater loyalty to their heritage than God's chosen people showed to their Creator.
c. 841 BC
Jonadab's Ascendancy and Zeal
Jonadab, son of Rechab, a significant figure among the Kenites, aligns with King Jehu, supporting his zealous purge of Baal worship in Israel. This establishes Jonadab's influence and commitment to a distinct way of life.
~841 BC - c. 609 BC
Rechabite Nomadic Tradition
Following Jonadab's commands, the Rechabites maintain a nomadic lifestyle, living in tents, abstaining from wine, and avoiding agriculture to preserve their independence and moral purity, distinguishing themselves from the settled, often corrupt, Israelite society.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar I of Babylon begins deporting Judeans to Babylon, including members of the royal family and skilled workers. This event intensifies the sense of instability and threat for Judah.
c. 609-605 BC— this verse
Chaldean and Syrian Invasions
Amidst the growing power of Babylon, Chaldean and Syrian armies invade Judah. The instability prompts the Rechabites, who had been living nomadically, to seek refuge within the fortified city of Jerusalem.
c. 605 BC
Jeremiah's Challenge to the Rechabites
The prophet Jeremiah, under God's instruction, brings the Rechabites into the Temple. He offers them wine to drink, testing their obedience to their ancestral commands in contrast to the disobedience of Judah.
c. 605 BC
Jeremiah's Rebuke to Judah
Following the Rechabites' steadfast refusal of wine, Jeremiah confronts the men of Judah and Jerusalem. He contrasts their faithfulness to a human command with Judah's persistent rejection of God's commands, warning of impending judgment.
This chapter details the severe consequences of disobedience to God's commands, mirroring how the Rechabites' obedience to their father highlights Judah's disobedience to God.
Proverbs 22:6The principle of training up a child in the way they should go, as Jonadab did, is contrasted with the people of Judah who failed to be trained in God's ways.
Isaiah 5:8-12This passage condemns luxury and self-indulgence, themes that the Rechabites' abstemious lifestyle directly opposes, thus serving as a living rebuke to Judah's excesses.
2 Kings 10:15-27This passage introduces Jonadab, the father of the Rechabites, showing his zealous commitment to the Lord, providing a historical context for his descendants' strict obedience.
Matthew 7:24-27The parable of the wise and foolish builders illustrates the importance of building one's life on a solid foundation, much like the Rechabites built their lives on their father's commands, contrasting with Judah's unstable foundation of disobedience.
calvinJeremiah 35:1-7: "The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,"
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:
Et adduxi eos in domum Jehovae ad cubiculum filiorum Chanan filii Igdaliae, viri Dei, quod erat juxta cubiculum p…
pooleJeremiah 35:2: "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."
These Rechabites had their name from Rechab their father, who, as appears from 1 Chronicles 2:55 , descended from Hemath, who was a Kenite, who is also called Hobab, Judges 4:11 (unless it may be Hameth who was the son of Hobab). This Hobab was Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, as appears from Judges 4:11 . We read, Judges…
Jeremiah isn't just bringing the Rechabites to the Temple to give them wine; he's bringing them into the most sacred space to witness their obedience, creating a powerful, living sermon for the people of Judah and Jerusalem. This deliberate placement in the Temple highlights the stark contrast between the Rechabites' faithfulness to their human father's commands and the people's disobedience to God.
The prophet Jeremiah is commanded by God to bring the Rechabites, a nomadic group known for their strict adherence to their ancestors' commands, into the Temple. There, he is to offer them wine, which their forefather Jonadab had forbidden them and their descendants to drink. This dramatic scene is set during a time when the people of Judah are increasingly ignoring God's word and are prone to idolatry and luxury.
The prophet Jeremiah is commanded by God to bring the Rechabites, a nomadic group known for their strict adherence to their ancestors' commands, into the Temple. There, he is to offer them wine, which their forefather Jonadab had forbidden them and their descendants to drink. This dramatic scene is set during a time when the people of Judah are increasingly ignoring God's word and are prone to idolatry and luxury.
"“Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak with them and bring them to the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers; then offer them wine to drink.”" — Jeremiah isn't just bringing the Rechabites to the Temple to give them wine; he's bringing them into the most sacred space to witness their obedience, creating a powerful, living sermon for the peopl…
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Last reviewed October 2026