Jeremiah 35:6-7
But they answered, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, ‘You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons forever. You shall not build a house; you shall not sow seed; you shall not plant or have a vineyard; but you shall live in tents all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Rechabites' strict refusal of wine isn't just about abstaining from a drink; it's a profound commitment to a nomadic, austere lifestyle. This ancient vow, passed down through generations, was meant to guard them against the luxury and seduction of settled life, mirroring a spiritual discipline to remain ever reliant on God alone.
Jeremiah, under God's direction, invites the Rechabites into the Temple and offers them wine, testing their adherence to their ancestral vow. This ancient nomadic group, descendants of Jonadab son of Rechab, had pledged to abstain from wine, avoid building houses, and live in tents to preserve their distinct way of life. Their unwavering refusal, rooted in their forefather's command, starkly contrasts with the Judahites' impending disobedience and serves as a powerful object lesson.
Imagine being offered a luxurious feast and politely declining. That's exactly what happened here! The Rechabites' refusal of wine wasn't just a personal preference; it was a statement about their entire way of life.
A Life Set Apart
The Rechabites followed a strict code passed down from their ancestor, Jonadab. This code centered around a nomadic lifestyle, rejecting the settled comforts that often led to luxury and moral compromise.
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What does it say about a people when they honor the command of an ancestor who died centuries ago, even when presented with an offer by God's own prophet?
The Weight of Legacy
The Rechabites' unwavering obedience to Jonadab, who had been dead for about 300 years, is the central point of this narrative. It highlights a profound respect for lineage and a commitment to inherited commands.
Understand the original words
yayin · Hebrew Noun
A fermented beverage often associated with celebration or intoxication, frequently used in the Bible as a symbol of joy, luxury, or divine judgment. Its prohibition here signifies a commitment to a life of strict discipline and separation from settled agrarian society.
tsavah · Hebrew Verb
To command, charge, or give an order; it denotes the exercise of authority and the expectation of adherence to a specific instruction or directive.
ohel · Hebrew Noun
A movable shelter; in this context, it represents a nomadic lifestyle, signifying a state of being unsettled, pilgrim-like, or detached from permanent attachment to the land.
gur · Hebrew Verb
To dwell temporarily or reside as a foreigner/stranger; it highlights a status of not belonging permanently to a land or place, emphasizing a transient existence.
kerem · Hebrew Noun
The fruit-bearing vine or the land cultivated for growing grapes; biblically, it often symbolizes prosperity, blessing, or, conversely, a state of settled stability that the Rechabites rejected.
banah bayith · Hebrew Verb
The act of constructing a dwelling or permanent structure, symbolizing stability, permanence, and rootedness in a specific location.
The Rechabites' unwavering commitment to their ancestor's simple, nomadic lifestyle, even while living in the heart of rebellious Jerusalem, serves as a powerful contrast. Their obedience to a human command highlights the shocking disobedience of Judah to God's direct commands and warnings through Jeremiah.
c. 841 BC
Jonadab allies with Jehu
Jonadab, a leader of the Rechabites, aligns himself with King Jehu during his bloody purge of the house of Ahab and the worship of Baal in Israel. Jonadab's counsel likely shaped his descendants' commitment to a distinct way of life.
c. 841 BC - 722 BC
Rechabites live nomadically
Following Jonadab's commands, the Rechabites live a nomadic lifestyle, abstaining from wine, not building houses, and not sowing seeds, likely as a way to remain separate from the corrupting influences of settled, idolatrous society. They likely migrated south from the northern kingdom of Israel.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, leading to the displacement of many people. The Rechabites, likely already living apart from mainstream society, may have migrated to the southern kingdom of Judah for safety.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacks Jerusalem and begins deporting Judeans, including members of the royal family and skilled workers. This event marks the escalating political crisis leading to Jerusalem's eventual destruction.
c. 597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Babylon deports more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, and installs a puppet king. The situation in Judah becomes increasingly dire, with constant pressure from Babylon.
c. 609 BC - 598 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Ministry under Jehoiakim
During the reign of King Jehoiakim, Jeremiah delivers God's message of judgment, warning the people of impending destruction due to their disobedience and idolatry. The Rechabites were living in Jerusalem at this time, maintaining their ancestral vows.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining population. This catastrophic event confirms Jeremiah's prophecies and devastates the nation.
This passage speaks of a root that produces poisonous or bitter fruit, paralleling how the Israelites' straying from God's commands leads to ruin, just as the Rechabites' obedience to their father's command for a life of abstinence was meant to preserve them.
1 Samuel 1:11Hannah's vow as a Nazarite, abstaining from wine and strong drink, mirrors the Rechabites' commitment to abstaining from wine as a form of dedication, though with different motivations.
2 Kings 10:15-16This is the historical account of Jonadab the son of Rechab, the same figure whose command the Rechabites in Jeremiah's time are obeying, showing the long-lasting impact of his distinct way of life and allegiance.
Proverbs 20:1This verse warns that wine is a mocker and strong drink a brawler, aligning with the potential dangers and excesses that Jonadab likely sought to protect his descendants from by forbidding wine.
Matthew 10:37Jesus speaks of loving Him more than father or mother, which contrasts with the Rechabites' extreme obedience to their earthly father's command, highlighting the ultimate authority of God's call on our lives.
barnesJeremiah 35:6: "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:"
Wine is the symbol of a settled life, because the vine requires time for its growth and care in its cultivation, while the preparation of the wine itself requires buildings, and it then has to be stored up before it is ready for use. The drink of nomads consists of the milk of their herds.
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…
The Rechabites' strict refusal of wine isn't just about abstaining from a drink; it's a profound commitment to a nomadic, austere lifestyle. This ancient vow, passed down through generations, was meant to guard them against the luxury and seduction of settled life, mirroring a spiritual discipline to remain ever reliant on God alone.
Jeremiah, under God's direction, invites the Rechabites into the Temple and offers them wine, testing their adherence to their ancestral vow. This ancient nomadic group, descendants of Jonadab son of Rechab, had pledged to abstain from wine, avoid building houses, and live in tents to preserve their distinct way of life. Their unwavering refusal, rooted in their forefather's command, starkly contrasts with the Judahites' impending disobedience and serves as a powerful object lesson.
Jeremiah, under God's direction, invites the Rechabites into the Temple and offers them wine, testing their adherence to their ancestral vow. This ancient nomadic group, descendants of Jonadab son of Rechab, had pledged to abstain from wine, avoid building houses, and live in tents to preserve their distinct way of life. Their unwavering refusal, rooted in their forefather's command, starkly contrasts with the Judahites' impending disobedience and serves as a powerful object lesson.
"But they answered, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, ‘You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons forever. You shall not build a house; you shall not sow seed; you shall not plant or h…" — The Rechabites' strict refusal of wine isn't just about abstaining from a drink; it's a profound commitment to a nomadic, austere lifestyle. This ancient vow, passed down through generations, was mea…
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