The Anselm Project

Chapter 35

¹ The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, saying: ² Go to the house of the Rechabites, speak to them, and bring them to the house of the LORD, to one of the chambers, and make them drink wine. ³ And I took Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah son of Habazziniah, and his brothers, and all his sons, and all the house of the Rechabites. ⁴ And I brought them into the house of the LORD, to the chamber of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah the man of God, which is beside the chamber of the rulers, which is above the chamber of Maaseiah son of Shallum, keeper of the threshold. ⁵ And I put before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of wine and cups and said to them, "Drink wine." ⁶ And they said, "We will not drink wine, for Jonadab son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, 'You and your sons shall not drink wine forever.'" ⁷ And you shall not build a house, and you shall not sow seed, and you shall not plant a vineyard, and it shall not be for you; for in tents you shall dwell all your days, in order that you may live many days on the face of the ground where you are dwelling. ⁸ And we obeyed the voice of Jonadab son of Rekab our father in all that he commanded us: not to drink wine all our days—we, our wives, our sons, and our daughters. ⁹ and not to build houses for our dwelling, and there shall not be vineyard, field, or seed for us. ¹⁰ And we dwell in tents, and we obey and do according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us. ¹¹ And when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to the land, we said, "Come, let us go to Jerusalem because of the army of the Chaldeans and because of the army of the Arameans," and we dwelt in Jerusalem. ¹² And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying. ¹³ Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Will you not receive discipline to hear my words? says the LORD. ¹⁴ The words of Jonadab son of Rekab have been established, which he commanded his sons not to drink wine, and they have not drunk until this day, for they have obeyed the commandment of their father. But I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, and you have not obeyed me. ¹⁵ I sent all my servants the prophets to you, rising early and sending them, saying, "Return, please, every one of you from his evil way and make your deeds good, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and return to the land that I gave to you and your fathers." But you did not incline your ear or hear me. ¹⁶ For the sons of Jonadab son of Rekab have upheld the commandments of their father which he commanded them, but this people have not obeyed me. ¹⁷ Therefore thus says the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I spoke concerning them, because I spoke to them but they did not listen, and I called to them but they did not answer. ¹⁸ And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, "The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, says: Because you have listened to the commandments of Jonadab your father and have kept all his commandments and have done according to all that he commanded you. ¹⁹ Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab son of Rekab shall not lack a man to stand before me all the days.