Jeremiah 35

1 This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the LORD during the reign ^{a35:1 Lit. days} of Josiah’s son Jehoiakim, king of Judah:ISV — Jeremiah 35:1

2 “Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak to them. Bring them into the LORD’s Temple, to one of the offices, and offer them wine to drink.”ISV — Jeremiah 35:2

3 So I took Jeremiah’s son Jaazaniah (a descendant of Habazziniah), his brothers, all his sons, and the whole family of the Rechabites.ISV — Jeremiah 35:3

4 I brought them to the LORD’s Temple to the office of the descendants of Igdaliah’s son Hanan, the man of God, which was next to the office of the officials, and which was above the office of Shallum’s son Maaseiah, the keeper of the threshold.ISV — Jeremiah 35:4

5 I put containers full of wine and cups in front of the members of the Rechabite clan ^{b35:5 Lit. the sons of the house of the Rechabites} and told them, “Drink the wine!”ISV — Jeremiah 35:5

6 But they said, “We won’t drink wine, because our ancestor, Rechab’s son Jonadab commanded us: ‘You and your descendants are never to drink wine!ISV — Jeremiah 35:6

7 You aren’t to build houses, you aren’t to sow seeds, and you aren’t to plant vineyards, or own them. Instead, you are to live in tents all your lives, ^{c35:7 Lit. your days} so you will enjoy a long life in the land where you reside.’ ^{d35:7 i.e. living as resident aliens}ISV — Jeremiah 35:7

8 We have obeyed everything that our ancestor, Rechab’s son Jonadab, commanded us. So we, our wives, our sons, and our daughters have drunk no wine all our lives, ^{e35:8 Lit. all our days}ISV — Jeremiah 35:8

9 and have built no houses to live in. We don’t have vineyards, fields, or seed.ISV — Jeremiah 35:9

10 We have lived in tents. We have obeyed and have done everything that our ancestor Jonadab commanded us.ISV — Jeremiah 35:10

11 Now when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against the land, we said, ‘Come on! Let’s go to Jerusalem because of the army of the Chaldeans and the army of Aram. And now we’re living in Jerusalem.’”ISV — Jeremiah 35:11

12 This message from the LORD came to Jeremiah:ISV — Jeremiah 35:12

13 “This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel says: ‘Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not accept correction by listening to what I say?” declares the LORD.ISV — Jeremiah 35:13

14 “But what Rechab’s son Jonadab commanded his sons about not drinking wine is observed, and they haven’t drunk wine until this day. Indeed, they obey the commands of their ancestor. But I’ve spoken to you again and again, ^{f35:14 Lit. getting up early and speaking} and you haven’t obeyed me.ISV — Jeremiah 35:14

15 I’ve sent you all my servants, the prophets, sending them again and again. ^{g35:15 Lit. getting up early and sending} I’ve said, ‘Each of you turn from his evil behavior ^{h35:15 Lit. way} and make your deeds right. Don’t follow other gods to serve them. Then you will remain in the land that I gave to you and to your ancestors.’ But you haven’t paid attention ^{i35:15 Lit. inclined your ear} and you haven’t obeyed me.ISV — Jeremiah 35:15

16 Indeed the descendants of Rechab’s son Jonadab have carried out the command of their ancestor that he gave them, but this people has not obeyed me.”ISV — Jeremiah 35:16

17 Therefore, this is what the LORD God of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel says: “Look, I’m bringing on Judah and all the residents of Jerusalem all the disaster that I pronounced against them, because I spoke to them, but they didn’t listen, and I called out to them, but they didn’t answer.”’”ISV — Jeremiah 35:17

18 Then Jeremiah told the house of the Rechabites, “This is what the LORD God of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel says: ‘Because you obeyed the commandment of your ancestor Jonadab, have observed all his commandments, and have done everything that he commanded you,’ISV — Jeremiah 35:18

19 therefore, this is what the LORD God of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel says: ‘Rechab’s son Jonadab won’t lack a descendant ^{j35:19 Cf. Neh 3:14} who serves me ^{k35:19 Lit. there won’t be cut off from Rechab’s son Jonadab one standing before me} always.’”ISV — Jeremiah 35:19