Jeremiah 35

¹The word that came to Jeremiah from YHWH in the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, saying:

²“Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak to them, and bring them to the house of YHWH, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.

³And I took Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah son of Habazziniah, and his brothers, and all his sons, and all the house of the Rechabites,

⁴and I brought them to the house of YHWH, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah, a man of God, that was beside the chamber of the princes, that was above the chamber of Maaseiah son of Shallum, the keeper of the door.

⁵And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pitchers full of wine, and cups, and I said to them: “Drink wine.

⁶And they said, “We will not drink wine,” for Jonadab son of Rechab our father commanded to us, saying, ‘You shall not drink wine, you or your sons, even to forever.

⁷And you shall not build a house, and you shall not sow seed, and you shall not plant a vineyard and not will one be unto you. But in tents you shall dwell all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you are sojourning there.

⁸And we have listened to the voice of Jonadab son of Rechab our father in all that he has commanded us, so as not to drink wine all our days—we, our wives, our sons, and our daughters—

⁹and so as not to build houses for our dwelling, and not is unto us a vineyard or field or seed.

¹⁰And we have dwelt in tents, and we have heard and done according to all that Jonadab our father has commanded us.

¹¹And it came to pass with the coming up of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to the land, that we said, ‘Come, and let us go to Jerusalem before the face of the army of the Chaldeans and before the face of the army of Aram.’ So we dwell in Jerusalem.

¹²And the word of YHWH came to Jeremiah, saying:

¹³“Thus says YHWH of Hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Go and say to the men of Judah and to those dwelling in Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction to obey My words,” a declaration of YHWH.

¹⁴The words of Jonadab son of Rechab that he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, have been performed. And they have not drunk until this day, and indeed they have heard the command of their father. And I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, and you have not listened to Me.

¹⁵And I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Turn now each man, from his evil way, and amend your works, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and you shall dwell in the land that I have given to you and to your fathers.’ But you would not incline your ear, and you did not listen to Me!

¹⁶So the sons of Jonadab son of Rechab have done the commandment of their father, which he commanded them, and this people have not listened to Me.

¹⁷Therefore, thus says YHWH God of Hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I am bringing to Judah and to all those dwelling in Jerusalem all the evil that I have spoken against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, and I have called to them and they have not answered.’”

¹⁸And to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, “Thus says YHWH of Hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Because that you have listened upon the commandment of Jonadab your father, and have kept all his precepts, and have done according to all that he commanded you,

¹⁹therefore thus says YHWH of Hosts, the God of Israel: For Jonadab son of Rechab will not lack a man to stand before Me all the days.’”