Jeremiah 35

Jer 35:1-19.

PROPHECY IN THE

REIGN OF

JEHOIAKIM, WHEN THE

CHALDEANS, IN

CONJUNCTION WITH THE

SYRIANS AND

MOABITES,

INVADED

JUDEA.

the disobedience of the Jews to God their Father. The Holy Spirit has

arranged Jeremiah's prophecies by the moral rather than the

chronological connection. From the history of an event fifteen years

before, the Jews, who had brought back their manumitted servants into

bondage, are taught how much God loves and rewards obedience, and hates

and punishes disobedience.

2. Rechabites--a nomadic tribe belonging to the Kenites of Hemath

(1Ch 2:55),

of the family of Jethro, or Hobab, Moses' father-in-law

(Ex 18:9,

&c.; Nu 10:29-32;

Jud 1:16).

They came into Canaan with the Israelites, but, in order to preserve

their independence, chose a life in tents without a fixed habitation

(1Sa 15:6).

Besides the branch of them associated with Judah and extending to

Amalek, there was another section at Kadesh, in Naphtali

(Jud 4:11, 17).

They seem to have been proselytes of the gate, Jonadab, son of Rechab,

whose charge not to drink wine they so strictly obeyed, was zealous for

God

(2Ki 10:15-23).

The Nabatheans of Arabia observed the same rules

[DIODORUS SICULUS, 19.94].

bring . . . into . . . house of . . .

Lord--because there were suitable witnesses at hand there from

among the priests and chief men, as also because he had the power

immediately to address the people assembled there

(Jer 35:13).

It may have been also as a reproof of the priests, who drank wine

freely, though commanded to refrain from it when in the discharge of

their duties [CALVIN].

chambers--which were round about the temple, applied to various uses,

for example, to contain the vestments, sacred vessels, &c.

3. Jaazaniah--the elder and chief of the clan.

4. man of God--a prophet

(De 33:1;

1Sa 2:27;

1Ki 12:22;

2Ki 4:7),

also "a servant of God" in general

(1Ti 6:11),

one not his own, but God's; one who has parted with all right in

himself to give himself wholly to God

(2Ti 3:17).

He was so reverenced that none would call in question what was

transacted in his chamber.

keeper of the door--Hebrew, "of the vessel." Probably the office

meant is that of the priest who kept in charge the capitation money paid

for the use of the temple and the votive offerings, such as silver

vessels, &c. There were seven such keepers

[GROTIUS]. Compare

2Ki 12:9; 25:18;

1Ch 9:18, 19,

which support English Version.

I said . . . Drink--Jeremiah does not say, The Lord saith,

Drink: for then they would have been bound to obey. Contrast the case in

1Ki 13:7-26.

6. Jonadab . . . our father--that is, forefather and director, three

hundred years before

(2Ki 10:15).

They were called Rechabites, not Jonadabites, having received their

name from Rechab the father, previously to their adopting the

injunctions of Jonadab his son. This case affords no

justification for slavish deference to the religious opinions of the

Christian fathers: for Jonadab's injunction only affected matters of

the present life; moreover, it was not binding on their consciences,

for they deemed it not unlawful to go to Jerusalem in the invasion

(Jer 35:11).

What is praised here is not the father's injunction, but the obedience

of the sons [CALVIN].

7. tents--

(Jud 4:17).

live many days--according to the promise connected with the fifth

commandment

(Ex 20:12;

Eph 6:2, 3).

strangers--They were not of the stock of Jacob, but sojourners in

Israel. Types of the children of God, pilgrims on earth, looking for

heaven as their home: having little to lose, so that losing times cost

them little alarm; sitting loose to what they have

(Heb 10:34; 11:9, 10, 13-16).

8. all that he . . . charged us . . . all our days, we . . .

wives . . . sons . . . daughters--unreserved obedience in all

particulars, at all times, and on the part of all, without exception: in

these respects Israel's obedience to God was wanting. Contrast

1Sa 15:20, 21;

Ps 78:34-37, 41, 56, 57.

11. Chaldeans . . . Syrians--when Jehoiakim revolted from

Nebuchadnezzar

(2Ki 24:1, 2).

Necessity sets aside all other laws. This is the Rechabites' excuse

for their seeming disobedience to Jonadab in temporarily settling in a

city. Herein was seen the prescient wisdom of Jonadab's commands; they

could at a moment's notice migrate, having no land possessions to tie

them.

14. obey . . . father's commandment: notwithstanding I--

(Mal 1:6).

rising early and speaking--God Himself speaking late and early

15. In

Jer 35:15

and in

2Ch 36:15,

a distinct mode of address is alluded to, namely, God sending His

servants.

(Jer 18:11; 25:5, 6).

I enjoined nothing unreasonable, but simply to serve Me, and I attached

to the command a gracious promise, but in vain. If Jonadab's commands,

which were arbitrary and not moral obligations in themselves, were

obeyed, much more ought Mine, which are in themselves right.

17. because I have spoken . . . not heard . . . I . . . called . . .

not answered--

(Pr 1:24;

Isa 65:12).

19. not want a man to stand before me--There shall always be left

representatives of the clan to worship Me

(Jer 15:1, 19);

or, "before Me" means simple existence, for all things in

existence are in God's sight

(Ps 89:36).

The Rechabites returned from the captivity. WOLFF

found traces of them in Arabia.