John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 35:8-10

"And we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters; nor to build houses for us to dwell in; neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed: but we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us." — Jeremiah 35:8-10 (ASV)

Jeremiah explains extensively what might have been expressed briefly, in order to emphasize the steadfastness of the Rechabites. For one may obey his father, yet not be so resolute that he might not, on some slight occasion, fail in his duty. Jeremiah here shows that such was the ready perseverance of the Rechabites that they could not be enticed by having wine set before them; rather, as if no temptation had been presented to them, they kept the commandment of their father, who, as has already been mentioned, had been dead for some ages.

They then said that they hearkened to the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, their father; and also added, according to all the things which he has commanded us. He again relates what Jonadab had commanded, and to this belongs the sentence, According to all things, etc. For if he had ordered them only to abstain from wine, to obey would not have been difficult or hard; he designed to bind them to a wandering life, so that they should live only in tents and not possess anything. Since Jonadab, then, did not test the obedience of his family in one thing only, it appears more clearly how great was their readiness and perseverance in obeying.

They then said, first, that they were not to drink wine; and also added, all their days. We indeed know that the Nazarites were forbidden to drink wine, but it was only for a time, until they had fulfilled their vow. We also know that when the priest was performing his duty, he was not allowed, during that time, to drink wine.

But afterwards the priests, as well as the Nazarites, resumed their usual way of living. To taste no wine throughout life, however, was a far more difficult thing. The Prophet, no doubt, gave these details to bring greater disgrace upon the Jews, who, in a most just and by no means difficult matter, were not, as we shall see, obedient to God.

They said, We, our wives, our sons, our daughters, as though they had said, “This precept has always been observed in our family; and what has been handed down to us by our fathers, we have followed to this day, just as our fathers also did, who obeyed the command of a dead man because his will had been explained to them.”

They added that they were not to build houses, literally meaning to inhabit them, that is, to dwell in them. It was therefore lawful for the Rechabites to construct houses, meaning to build them for others; but they were to be content with tents and to live in them. They might then assist others in building splendid palaces and thus by their labor earn a living, but they were not allowed to inhabit them, as this was one of their precepts.

They further added, And a vineyard and a field and seed we have not. If we properly consider how hard their condition was, we shall see reason to praise the steadfastness of the Rechabites, for they were not deterred from their purpose when they saw that they were brought into dire straits. However, we should especially pay attention to the Prophet's objective, namely, to show how shameful the perverseness of the Jews was, who dared to despise and regard as nothing the precepts of God, even though the authority of a mortal man, and one who was dead, held such great sway with his posterity. They then said that they dwelt in tents and did according to all the things that Jonadab their father had commanded them.