The Faithful Rechabites and the Unfaithful Jews

1. The command concerning the Rechabites (Jeremiah 35:1-11)

2. The lesson for the Jews (Jeremiah 35:12-19)

The Rechabites were Kenites and were numbered with the children of Israel 1Chronicles 2:55. During the reign of Jehoiakim the incident of this chapter happened. The critics may rave against the “unchronological” construction of Jeremiah jumping from one period into another, but there we see the guiding hand of the Spirit in the arrangement of these events. It is perfectly in order that this should come next to the chapter which relates the broken covenant. A careful reading and study of this chapter will bring out the lesson of their faithfulness to their father’s command, and the unfaithfulness of the Jews to God’s command.