Jer. 35:1 ¶ The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
Jer. 35:2 Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.
Jeremiah’s record is obviously not recorded chronologically. This message from the LORD jumps back in time to the reign of Jehoiakim. This message is unique in that the focus is on a particular family, the Rechabites, who research indicates were Kenites, the same tribe as Moses’ father-in-law Jethro. Jeremiah is instructed to take this family into one of the Temple chambers and give them some wine to drink.
Jer. 35:3 Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;
Jer. 35:4 And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door:
It would seem that Jaazaniah was recognized as the leader of the family as Jeremiah describes his gathering of the family. Jeremiah even identifies the specific chamber in which the gathering took place as belonging to the sons of Hanan, specifically to Igdaliah, a highly respected man of God. JFB made the point that this man’s chamber was chosen because his witness would give credible testimony to the truth of Jeremiah’s claims regarding the events that transpired there. This chamber is further identified as being adjacent to the chamber of the princes and above the chamber of Shallum, the Temple doorkeeper.
Jer. 35:5 And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine.
Jer. 35:6 But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever:
Jer. 35:7 Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers.
When everyone had gathered in the chamber, Jeremiah proceeded to set out the wine and cups and instructed the family to drink the wine. The family refused to drink the wine because they had been instructed by their forefather Jonadab (who lived approximately 300 years earlier) that the men of their family were never to drink wine; this instruction was understood to apply to succeeding generations for perpetuity. They were also instructed not to establish permanent housing or plant crops to support themselves. They were to live as nomads, dwelling in tents as strangers in the land, a reference to the fact that they were not Jewish.
We, as believers, are to live in obedience to God the Father as strangers in this world, the kingdom of Satan, until Jesus establishes His kingdom on earth and finally evicts the usurper. This is what is referenced by the writer of Hebrews.
Hebrews 11:9–10 & 13 “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
Jer. 35:8 Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;
Jer. 35:9 Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:
Jer. 35:10 But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.
They declared that they (including wives, sons and daughters) had lived in obedience to the dictates of their forefathers. They had drunk no wine, planted no crops, and lived in tents in obedience to their father Jonadab.
Jer. 35:11 But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem.
It seems that they felt the need to explain why they were currently living in Jerusalem. They noted that when Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah, they decided to flee to Jerusalem for safety from the Chaldeans and the Syrians, who were evidently in league with Neb.
Jer. 35:12 ¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,
Jer. 35:13 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD.
Jer. 35:14 The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me.
Jer. 35:15 I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.
The LORD now explains the purpose for Jeremiah’s actions. In His omniscience, God knew that the Rechabites would honor their father through their obedience.
He then draws the contrast between the honor this family showed their father to the lack of honor the people of Judah had shown Him as their LORD. He points out that they have no excuse for lack of instruction because He had sent one prophet after another to call them to repentance from their evil ways. They had been warned over and over again not to worship false gods. They had been warned that disobedience would result in losing the privilege of living in the Promised Land and enjoying His blessing and protection. To this point, they had refused to heed the warnings of the prophets as they declared God’s word; they had chosen to continue in their disobedience.
Jer. 35:16 Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me:
Jer. 35:17 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.
The LORD declares that as the God of Israel, His patience has reached its limit; He is going to judge the people according to the conditional covenant made with the people through Moses. This demonstration of the obedience of the Rechabites to their earthly father revealed to a greater degree the disobedience of the Israelites to their heavenly Father, the God of Israel. The NIV Commentary made the following pertinent observations:
The Recabites obeyed a fallible leader; Judah’s leader was the eternal God.
Jonadab gave his commands to the Recabites only once; God repeatedly sent his messages to his people.
The restrictions that bound the Recabites did not deal with eternal issues; God’s messages to his people had eternal as well as temporal implications.
Jer. 35:18 And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you:
Jer. 35:19 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.
The Rechabites, however, were going to be blessed for honoring and obeying their father. Their family would never lack progeny “to stand before me” forever. I think this means more than just the promise of an unbroken line of direct descendants. I think this makes reference to words of deliverance and blessing such as promised by Jesus to His disciples and as recorded by the prophet Ezekiel in reference to the sons of Zadok. This family would always have those who faithfully served the LORD.
Luke 21:36 “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”
Ezekiel 44:15–16 “But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD: They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.”
Wiersbe: “Often God’s people are put to shame by the devotion and discipline of people who don’t even know the Lord but who are intensely loyal to their family, their religion, or their personal pursuits. Even people who want nothing to do with the Word of God can be loyal to traditions and human codes. If Christians put the kind of discipline into their spiritual walk that athletes put into their chosen sport, the church would be pulsating with revival life.”
Jer. 36:1 ¶ And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Jer. 36:2 Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.
Jer. 36:3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.
This instruction from the LORD to Jeremiah was given in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah. Jeremiah is instructed to make a written record of all the messages that God had revealed to him against Israel, Judah and the nations. He is to be sure and begin with the very first message delivered to him in the days of Josiah’s rule.
The purpose: That the people of Judah might hear the whole and hopefully choose to turn from their evil ways and seek the LORD’s forgiveness for their sin.
I am always amazed that despite His omniscience, God is faithful to continue to provide His people every opportunity to repent. He proves Himself a faithful, loving Father who exhausts every means possible before resorting to harsh judgment. When His people look back on His dealings with them, they will have no grounds for accusing Him of impatience or unrighteousness in His actions.
Jer. 36:4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.
Jer. 36:5 And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD:
Jer. 36:6 Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD’S house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.
Jer. 36:7 It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people.
Jeremiah immediately called for his assistant and scribe, Baruch, the son of Neriah. Point is made that Baruch took dictation from Jeremiah and that it included “all” the words the LORD had given Jeremiah.
Since Jeremiah was apparently restricted in his movements, he was not permitted to go to the Temple and read from the completed scroll. So, he asked Baruch to go in his stead and read from the scroll publicly at the temple on the next day of fasting. He chose this time because it would be a day when the most people would be exposed to the reading. Jeremiah continued to hope that hearing the word of the LORD would result in repentance from their evil ways even though he had been prophesying well over 20 years at this point. He knew that God had pronounced judgment in anger upon His people because of their wickedness.
Jer. 36:8 And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD in the LORD’S house.
Baruch is shown to be a faithful assistant gifted with the boldness of Jeremiah regarding the proclamation of God’s word. He did exactly as instructed.
Jer. 36:9 ¶ And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem.
Jer. 36:10 Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD’S house, in the ears of all the people.
The events in this section take place at least nine months after Jeremiah’s instruction from the LORD to make the written record of his messages. Some commentators specifically pinpoint the date to December of 604 BC. I would assume this to be describing Baruch’s first reading of the scroll. A special fast day had been proclaimed for all who were in Jerusalem. Baruch positioned himself in the chamber of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan the scribe. It was located at the entry of the new gate and must have provided elevation to facilitate Baruch being seen and heard.
Jer. 36:11 When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of the LORD,
Jer. 36:12 Then he went down into the king’s house, into the scribe’s chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes.
Jer. 36:13 Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people.
When Gemariah’s son Michaiah heard Baruch’s reading of the scroll, he immediately went to report to the princes, the scribes in the house of the king. He then proceeded to tell them his version of all that Baruch had read before the people. The wording indicates that this was more than just a summary; he included as much as he could remember.
Jer. 36:14 Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thine hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them.
Jer. 36:15 And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears.
At this point the princes sent their own messenger, Jehudi, to get Baruch and tell him to bring his scroll and present himself before them. Baruch complied. When he arrived, the princes asked him to sit down and once again read the scroll to them. Again, Baruch complied.
Note that there is no hint of fear or hesitation in Baruch’s responses.
Jer. 36:16 Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and other, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words.
Jer. 36:17 And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?
Jer. 36:18 Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.
Jer. 36:19 Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.
Once the princes heard the contents of the scroll, they became afraid. They told Baruch that they would inform the king of God’s word.
It seems as though they were anticipating the king’s questions when they asked Baruch to tell them how the scroll had been composed. Baruch informed them that Jeremiah had dictated every word, and he recorded each word in ink on the scroll.
Again, in anticipation of the king’s response, the princes told Baruch that he and Jeremiah should go into hiding and not reveal their hiding place to anyone.
Jer. 36:20 ¶ And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king.
Jer. 36:21 So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king.
Jer. 36:22 Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.
Jer. 36:23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.
Evidently, the princes kept the scroll and left it in the chamber of Elishama, one of the scribes, when they went to tell the king all that they had heard. The king decided to send Jehudi to get the scroll and read it aloud before the king and his princes. We are told that this took place in the king’s winter house in the 9th month and are given no indication that it is not the same day the scroll was first read at the Temple. It sounds like the king only had the patience to listen to the first few pages (or leaves in the scroll) before he started cutting it up and throwing it into the fire until the whole scroll had been destroyed.
It stands out to me that Josiah’s son responded very differently than did Josiah when he heard the reading of God’s word.
2 Kings 22:11–13 “And it came to pass, when the king [Josiah] had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying, Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.”
Jer. 36:24 Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.
Jer. 36:25 Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them.
Jer. 36:26 But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.
Verse 24 indicates that the whole scroll was read even though it was destroyed in sections as it was being read. Neither the king nor his servants responded with the fear of the princes that first heard it. Three of the princes specifically pleaded with the king not to destroy the scroll, but to no avail.
Jehoiakim then ordered that Baruch and Jeremiah be taken into custody—“but the LORD hid them.” This is another of those examples where God steps in to miraculously ensure that his purposes are accomplished. The princes had encouraged Baruch and Jeremiah to go into hiding, and the LORD ensured that they were not found.
I am reminded of the many times that the Jewish leaders wanted to take hold of Jesus, but He was suddenly lost among the crowd and could not be found. God would not allow His Son to be taken into custody until His prophecies would be fulfilled according to the prophesied timeline.
Jer. 36:27 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,
Jer. 36:28 Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.
The LORD again spoke to Jeremiah after the scroll had been destroyed and told him to make another scroll containing all the words that had been recorded in the previous one.
Jer. 36:29 And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?
Jer. 36:30 Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.
Jer. 36:31 And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.
The second writing of the scroll would have required a bit of time and allowed the king’s temper to cool down. The LORD instructed Jeremiah to go before King Jehoiakim and ask him why he burned the scroll just because he didn’t like what it said.
Because he had treated God’s word so disrespectfully and, in turn, dishonored God, Jeremiah declared that Jehoiakim would have no heir to the throne of David; neither would his body be treated with a proper burial when he died. He and his descendants and his servants would all be punished for their sin. That punishment would be extended to include those living in Jerusalem and Judah because they chose to disregard the word of God. Other scriptures declare this same principle.
Proverbs 13:13 “Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.”
Isaiah 5:24 “Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.”
Note that though Jehoiakim’s son Jeconiah (aka Jehoiachin and Coniah) succeeded him to the throne, it was for only three months. This king was eighteen years old when he began his reign and is known for doing evil in God’s sight even though he only ruled for three months. He was taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar and his uncle Zedekiah appointed as king. The LORD Jesus will be the next to assume the earthly throne of David, and He is not a blood descendant of Jeconiah.
The king’s death and the capture of his son are recorded in Chronicles.
2 Chronicles 36:5–10 “Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin [also called Jeconiah and Coniah] his son reigned in his stead. Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD….”
2 Kings 24:8 “Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother’s name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.”
Note that there is obviously a transcription error in one of the records regarding Jehoichin’s age when he began to reign. I believe that the correct age must have been eighteen for the king to be identified as doing evil in the sight of the LORD.
Jer. 36:32 Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.
As usual, Jeremiah immediately obeyed the LORD and dictated another record of his messages from God to Baruch. This scroll, however, contained more than what was in the previous scroll. This implies to me that the LORD revealed new details, insights, or messages for Jeremiah to share because we know that the first scroll was a complete record of the messages received until the time of its making. Point is made, however, that these messages were of like nature to the ones previously recorded.
Wiersbe: “The same God who gives the Word has the power to protect and preserve the Word. The king had tried to destroy the Word, but the Word destroyed hm!”