The Obedience of the Rechabites

1  הַדָּבָ֛ר (The word) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) הָיָ֥ה (came) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (Jeremiah) מֵאֵ֣ת (from) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH) בִּימֵ֨י (in the days) יְהוֹיָקִ֧ים (of Jehoiakim) בֶּן־ (son) יֹאשִׁיָּ֛הוּ (of Josiah) מֶ֥לֶךְ (king) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 2  הָלוֹךְ֮ (Go) אֶל־ (to) בֵּ֣ית (the house) הָרֵכָבִים֒ (of the Rechabites), וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ (and speak) אוֹתָ֔ם (to them) וַהֲבִֽאוֹתָם֙ (and bring them) בֵּ֣ית (to the house) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), אֶל־ (into) אַחַ֖ת (one) הַלְּשָׁכ֑וֹת (of the chambers), וְהִשְׁקִיתָ֥ (and give to drink) אוֹתָ֖ם (them) יָֽיִן׃ (wine).

3  וָאֶקַּ֞ח (And I took) אֶת־ (-) יַאֲזַנְיָ֤ה (Jaazaniah) בֶֽן־ (son) יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ (of Jeremiah), בֶּן־ (son) חֲבַצִּנְיָ֔ה (of Habazziniah), וְאֶת־ (and) אֶחָ֖יו (his brothers), וְאֶת־ (and) כָּל־ (all) בָּנָ֑יו (his sons), וְאֵ֖ת (and) כָּל־ (all) בֵּ֥ית (the house) הָרֵכָבִֽים׃ (of the Rechabites); 4  וָאָבִ֤א (and I brought) אֹתָם֙ (them) בֵּ֣ית (to the house) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), אֶל־ (into) לִשְׁכַּ֗ת (the chamber) בְּנֵ֛י (of the sons) חָנָ֥ן (of Hanan), בֶּן־ (son) יִגְדַּלְיָ֖הוּ (of Igdaliah), אִ֣ישׁ (a man) הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (of God), אֲשֶׁר־ (that was) אֵ֙צֶל֙ (beside) לִשְׁכַּ֣ת (the chamber) הַשָּׂרִ֔ים (of the princes), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that was) מִמַּ֗עַל (above) לְלִשְׁכַּ֛ת (the chamber) מַעֲשֵׂיָ֥הוּ (of Maaseiah) בֶן־ (son) שַׁלֻּ֖ם (of Shallum), שֹׁמֵ֥ר (the keeper) הַסַּֽף׃ (of the door).

5  וָאֶתֵּ֞ן (And I set) לִפְנֵ֣י׀ (before) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) בֵית־ (of the house) הָרֵכָבִ֗ים (of the Rechabites) גְּבִעִ֛ים (pitchers) מְלֵאִ֥ים (full) יַ֖יִן (of wine), וְכֹס֑וֹת (and cups), וָאֹמַ֥ר (and I said) אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (to them) שְׁתוּ־ (Drink) יָֽיִן׃ (wine).

6  וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ (And they said), לֹ֣א (We will not) נִשְׁתֶּה־ (drink) יָּ֑יִן (wine), כִּי֩ (for) יוֹנָדָ֨ב (Jonadab) בֶּן־ (son) רֵכָ֜ב (of Rechab) אָבִ֗ינוּ (our father) צִוָּ֤ה (commanded) עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ (to us) לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), לֹ֧א (You shall not) תִשְׁתּוּ־ (drink) יַ֛יִן (wine), אַתֶּ֥ם (you⁺), וּבְנֵיכֶ֖ם (or your⁺ sons) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָֽם׃ (forever); 7  וּבַ֣יִת (a house), לֹֽא־ (and not) תִבְנ֗וּ (you⁺ shall build) וְזֶ֤רַע (seed), לֹֽא־ (and not) תִזְרָ֙עוּ֙ (you⁺ shall sow) וְכֶ֣רֶם (a vineyard), לֹֽא־ (and not) תִטָּ֔עוּ (you⁺ shall plant) וְלֹ֥א (and not) יִֽהְיֶ֖ה (will one be) לָכֶ֑ם (unto you⁺) כִּ֠י (but) בָּאֳהָלִ֤ים (in tents); תֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙ (you⁺ shall dwell) כָּל־ (all) יְמֵיכֶ֔ם (your⁺ days) לְמַ֨עַן (that) תִּֽחְי֜וּ (you⁺ may live) יָמִ֤ים (days) רַבִּים֙ (many) עַל־ (in) פְּנֵ֣י (-) הָאֲדָמָ֔ה (the land) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (where) אַתֶּ֖ם (you⁺ are) גָּרִ֥ים (sojourning) שָֽׁם׃ (there).

8  וַנִּשְׁמַ֗ע (And we have listened) בְּק֨וֹל (to the voice) יְהוֹנָדָ֤ב (of Jonadab) בֶּן־ (son) רֵכָב֙ (of Rechab) אָבִ֔ינוּ (our father) לְכֹ֖ל (in all) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) צִוָּ֑נוּ (he has commanded us) לְבִלְתִּ֤י (so as not) שְׁתֽוֹת־ (to drink) יַ֙יִן֙ (wine) כָּל־ (all) יָמֵ֔ינוּ (our days), אֲנַ֣חְנוּ (we), נָשֵׁ֔ינוּ (our wives), בָּנֵ֖ינוּ (our sons), וּבְנֹתֵֽינוּ׃ (and our daughters); 9  וּלְבִלְתִּ֛י (and so as not) בְּנ֥וֹת (to build) בָּתִּ֖ים (houses) לְשִׁבְתֵּ֑נוּ (for our dwelling) וְכֶ֧רֶם (and a vineyard), וְשָׂדֶ֛ה (or field), וָזֶ֖רַע (or seed). לֹ֥א (Not) יִֽהְיֶה־ (is) לָּֽנוּ׃ (unto us). 10  וַנֵּ֖שֶׁב (And we have dwelt) בָּֽאֳהָלִ֑ים (in tents), וַנִּשְׁמַ֣ע (and we have heard), וַנַּ֔עַשׂ (and done) כְּכֹ֥ל (according to all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) צִוָּ֖נוּ (has commanded us) יוֹנָדָ֥ב (Jonadab) אָבִֽינוּ׃ (our father).

11  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), בַּעֲל֨וֹת (with the coming up of) נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֥ר (Nebuchadnezzar) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) בָּבֶל֮ (of Babylon) אֶל־ (to) הָאָרֶץ֒ (the land), וַנֹּ֗אמֶר (that we said), בֹּ֚אוּ (Come), וְנָב֣וֹא (and let us go) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם (to Jerusalem) מִפְּנֵי֙ (before the face) חֵ֣יל (of the army) הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים (of the Chaldeans), וּמִפְּנֵ֖י (and before the face) חֵ֣יל (of the army) אֲרָ֑ם (of Aram); וַנֵּ֖שֶׁב (so we dwell) בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃פ (in Jerusalem).

Judah Rebuked

12  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And came =) דְּבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (Jeremiah), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 13  כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֞ר (says) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH of) צְבָאוֹת֙ (Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel); הָלֹ֤ךְ (Go) וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ (and say) לְאִ֣ישׁ (to the men) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah) וּלְיֽוֹשְׁבֵ֖י (and to the dwellers) יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (of Jerusalem), הֲל֨וֹא (Not) תִקְח֥וּ (will you⁺ receive) מוּסָ֛ר (instruction) לִשְׁמֹ֥עַ (obey) אֶל־ (to) דְּבָרַ֖י (My words)? נְאֻם־ (A declaration) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

14  הוּקַ֡ם (Have been performed); אֶת־ (-) דִּבְרֵ֣י (the words) יְהוֹנָדָ֣ב (of Jonadab) בֶּן־ (son) רֵ֠כָב (of Rechab), אֲשֶׁר־ (that) צִוָּ֨ה (he commanded) אֶת־ (-) בָּנָ֜יו (his sons) לְבִלְתִּ֣י (not) שְׁתֽוֹת־ (to drink) יַ֗יִן (wine), וְלֹ֤א (and they have not), שָׁתוּ֙ (drunk) עַד־ (until) הַיּ֣וֹם (day) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) כִּ֣י (and indeed) שָֽׁמְע֔וּ (they have heard) אֵ֖ת (-) מִצְוַ֣ת (the command). אֲבִיהֶ֑ם (Of their father) וְאָ֨נֹכִ֜י (and I) דִּבַּ֤רְתִּי (have spoken) אֲלֵיכֶם֙ (to you⁺) הַשְׁכֵּ֣ם (rising early) וְדַבֵּ֔ר (and speaking); וְלֹ֥א (and not) שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם (you⁺ have listened) אֵלָֽי׃ (to Me).

15  וָאֶשְׁלַ֣ח (And I have sent) אֲלֵיכֶ֣ם (to you⁺) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) עֲבָדַ֣י (My servants) הַנְּבִאִ֣ים׀ (the prophets), הַשְׁכֵּ֣ים (rising up early) וְשָׁלֹ֣חַ׀ (and sending them) לֵאמֹ֡ר (saying), שֻׁבוּ־ (Turn) נָ֡א (now) אִישׁ֩ (each man) מִדַּרְכּ֨וֹ (way), הָרָעָ֜ה (from his evil) וְהֵיטִ֣יבוּ (and amend) מַֽעַלְלֵיכֶ֗ם (your⁺ works), וְאַל־ (and do not) תֵּ֨לְכ֜וּ (go) אַחֲרֵ֨י (after) אֱלֹהִ֤ים (gods) אֲחֵרִים֙ (other) לְעָבְדָ֔ם (to serve them) וּשְׁבוּ֙ (and you shall dwell) אֶל־ (in) הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה (the land) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נָתַ֥תִּי (I have given) לָכֶ֖ם (to you⁺) וְלַאֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם (and to your⁺ fathers); וְלֹ֤א (but you would not) הִטִּיתֶם֙ (incline) אֶֽת־ (-) אָזְנְכֶ֔ם (your⁺ ear), וְלֹ֥א (and not) שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם (did you⁺ listen) אֵלָֽי׃ (to Me). 16  כִּ֣י (So) הֵקִ֗ימוּ (have done) בְּנֵי֙ (the sons) יְהוֹנָדָ֣ב (of Jonadab) בֶּן־ (son) רֵכָ֔ב (of Rechab) אֶת־ (-) מִצְוַ֥ת (the commandment) אֲבִיהֶ֖ם (of their father), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which) צִוָּ֑ם (he commanded them) וְהָעָ֣ם (and the people) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) לֹ֥א (not) שָׁמְע֖וּ (have listened) אֵלָֽי׃ס (to Me).

17  לָ֠כֵן (Therefore) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֨ר (says) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֤י (God) צְבָאוֹת֙ (of Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel); הִנְנִ֧י (Behold, I) מֵבִ֣יא (am bringing) אֶל־ (to) יְהוּדָ֗ה (Judah) וְאֶ֤ל (and to) כָּל־ (all) יֽוֹשְׁבֵי֙ (the dwellers) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (of Jerusalem) אֵ֚ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הָ֣רָעָ֔ה (the evil) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי (I have spoken) עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם (against them) יַ֣עַן (because) דִּבַּ֤רְתִּי (I have spoken) אֲלֵיהֶם֙ (to them) וְלֹ֣א (and not) שָׁמֵ֔עוּ (they have listened); וָאֶקְרָ֥א (and I have called) לָהֶ֖ם (to them) וְלֹ֥א (and not) עָנֽוּ׃ (they have answered).

18  וּלְבֵ֨ית (And to the house) הָרֵכָבִ֜ים (of the Rechabites), אָמַ֣ר (said) יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ (Jeremiah) כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֞ר (says) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH of) צְבָאוֹת֙ (Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel); יַ֚עַן (Because) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) שְׁמַעְתֶּ֔ם (you⁺ have listened) עַל־ (upon) מִצְוַ֖ת (the commandment) יְהוֹנָדָ֣ב (of Jonadab) אֲבִיכֶ֑ם (your⁺ father), וַֽתִּשְׁמְרוּ֙ (and have kept) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) מִצְוֺתָ֔יו (his precepts), וַֽתַּעֲשׂ֔וּ (and have done) כְּכֹ֥ל (according to all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) צִוָּ֖ה (he commanded) אֶתְכֶֽם׃ס (you⁺). 19  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) כֹּ֥ה (thus) אָמַ֛ר (says) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH of) צְבָא֖וֹת (Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel); לֹֽא־ (not) יִכָּרֵ֨ת (will lack) אִ֜ישׁ (a man) לְיוֹנָדָ֧ב (for Jonadab) בֶּן־ (son) רֵכָ֛ב (of Rechab) עֹמֵ֥ד (to stand) לְפָנַ֖י (before Me) כָּל־ (all) הַיָּמִֽים׃פ (the days).