The word which
came
to Jeremiah
from the LORD
in the days
of aJehoiakim
the son
of Josiah
, king
of Judah
, saying
,
"Go to the house
of the aRechabites
and speak
to them, and bring
them into the house
of the LORD
, into one
of the bchambers
, and give
them wine
to drink
."
Then I took Jaazaniah
the son
of Jeremiah
, son
of Habazziniah
, and his brothers
and all
his sons
and the whole
house
of the Rechabites
,
and I brought them into the house
of the LORD
, into the chamber
of the sons
of Hanan
the son
of Igdaliah
, the aman
of God
, which
was near
the chamber
of the officials
, which
was above
the chamber
of Maaseiah
the son
of Shallum
, bthe doorkeeper
.
Then I set before
the 1men
of the house
of the Rechabites
pitchers
full
of wine
and cups
; and I said
to them, " aDrink
wine
!"
But they said, "We will not drink
wine
, for aJonadab
the son
of bRechab
, our father
, commanded
us, saying
, `You shall cnot drink
wine
, you or your sons
, forever
.
`You shall not build a house
, and you shall not sow
seed
and you shall not plant
a vineyard
or own
one; but in atents
you shall dwell
all
your days
, that you may live
bmany
days
in the land
where
you csojourn
.'
"We have aobeyed the voice
of Jonadab
the son
of Rechab
, our father
, in all
that he commanded
us, not to drink
wine
all
our days
, we, our wives
, our sons
or our daughters
,
nor to build
ourselves houses
to dwell
in; and we ado not have
vineyard
or field
or seed
.
"We have only adwelt in tents
, and have obeyed
and have done
according to all
that bJonadab
our father
commanded
us.
"But when aNebuchadnezzar king
of Babylon
came
up against
the land
, we said
, `Come
and let us bgo
to Jerusalem
before
the army
of the Chaldeans
and before
the army
of the Arameans
.' So we have dwelt
in Jerusalem
."
Then the word of the LORD
came
to Jeremiah
, saying
,
"Thus says
the LORD
of hosts
, the God
of Israel
, `Go
and say
to the men
of Judah
and the inhabitants
of Jerusalem
, " aWill you not receive
instruction
by listening
to My words
?" declares
the LORD
.
"The awords of Jonadab
the son
of Rechab
, which
he commanded
his sons
not to drink
wine
, are observed
. So they do not drink
wine to this
day
, for they have obeyed
their father's
command
. But I have spoken
to you 1 bagain
and again
; yet you have cnot listened
to Me.
"Also I have sent to you all
My aservants
the prophets
, sending
them 1again
and again
, saying
: ` bTurn
now
every
man
from his evil
way
and amend
your deeds
, and cdo not go
after
other
gods
to worship
them. Then you will ddwell
in the land
which
I have given
to you and to your forefathers
; but you have not einclined
your ear
or listened
to Me.
`Indeed, the sons
of Jonadab
the son
of Rechab
have aobserved
the command
of their father
which
he commanded
them, but this
people
has not listened
to Me.' "'
"Therefore thus
says
the LORD
, the God
of hosts
, the God
of Israel
, `Behold
, aI am bringing
on Judah
and on all
the inhabitants
of Jerusalem
all
the disaster
that I have pronounced
against
them; because
I bspoke
to them but they did not listen
, and I have called
them but they did not answer
.' "
Then Jeremiah said
to the house
of the Rechabites
, "Thus
says
the LORD
of hosts
, the God
of Israel
, `Because
you have aobeyed
the command
of Jonadab
your father
, kept
all
his commands
and done
according to all
that he commanded
you;
therefore thus
says
the LORD
of hosts
, the God
of Israel
, "Jonadab
the son
of Rechab
ashall not lack
a man
to bstand
before
Me 1always
.""'