Tyndale Open Study NotesJeremiah 35

Here are examples of the faithless (those who break the covenant) (Jeremiah 34:8–22) and the faithful (those who keep the covenant) (35:1–19).

The Recabites obeyed their ancestor, while the Israelites rebelled against the Lord, their God.

These two chapters reflect on events from twenty years ago when Jehoiakim was king.

This event happened when Jehoiakim was king, during the first Babylonian attack on Jerusalem in 605 BC (see Jeremiah 35:11).

The Recabites were descendants of Jehonadab, son of Recab, a Kenite who served under Jehu, king of Israel (2 Kings 10:15, 23; 1 Chronicles 2:55). Jeremiah likely knew the Recabites did not drink wine, but he followed the Lord's command.

The Jeremiah mentioned here was not the prophet. He and the others were part of the Recabite community.

Jeremiah the prophet described the room's location in the Temple. He noted that Hanan, the man in charge, was a man of God. During this idolatrous time in Judah's history, the prophet had friends in high places who still believed in the one true God.

Jehonadab had required his descendants to live a nomadic life without the comforts of settled living, and the Recabites had obeyed.

The Lord used the Recabites as a clear contrast to the people of Judah. The Recabites lacked many good things in life, but they stayed obedient.

The Recabites never drank wine because their ancestor told them not to. The people of Israel should have been even more willing to listen and obey when the Lord told them to turn from their wicked ways and live according to his laws.

The Lord announced a punishment for Judah's sin.

A descendant of Jehonadab, son of Recab, returned from Babylon after the Exile. He helped rebuild the wall of Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 3:14).