The Recabites (35:1–19)

Recabite family (35:2). What we know about the clan of the Recabites comes only from this text. According to the information here, they formed a kind of subculture within the Israelite society, and they claimed to be following the instructions of their ancestor Jonadab son of Recab. This ancestor was a zealous supporter of Jehu, who had invited Recab to witness the final extermination of Ahab’s royal house and the violent purge of Baal worship (2 Kings 10:15–27). One biblical source traces their origins to the Kenites (1 Chron. 2:55), which in turn leads us to the possibility that they were originally a guild of craftsmen dedicated to working with metal.

For many years scholars assumed, based on this passage, that the Recabites lived a nomadic or seminomadic life free from alcohol. According to the instructions of Jonadab, the Recabites were not to build houses but had to live in tents—rules that seem to constitute the essence of nomadism.268 In this sense they would indeed be considered a subculture in that there was generally conflict between those who chose a nomadic or seminomadic lifestyle and those who chose a sedentary life based on an agricultural way of life.

More recently, however, scholars have offered alternative suggestions as to the lifestyle of the Recabites. Some of the suggestions are: (1) The Recabites actually resided in permanent settlements in the Judean hills;269 (2) they were a guild of itinerant craftsmen who made chariots and weaponry;270 (3) they were prophets who linked up with the itinerant lifestyle of Elijah.271 In the final analysis, whether the Recabites were a nomadic group or not, this is not what concerns Jeremiah. The prophet does not appeal to them because he endorses their lifestyle. Rather, he presents them as an example of true obedience and faithfulness. They have shown that they have been much more obedient and faithful to their ancestor Jonadab than Judah to Yahweh.

This is why Jeremiah lifts them up as an example for Judah. The Recabites receive a promise from Jeremiah (see 35:19), and it is worthy of note that a descendant of the Recabites is mentioned as one who helps in the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Neh. 3:14). This may or may not be evidence that the Recabites survive the Babylonian exile.272

One of the side rooms of the house of the LORD (35:2). The temple was surrounded by an outside construction on three sides—a building that had three slight stories alongside two of the walls of the temple. The lower one would be similar to the rooms that flanked certain temples in Egypt and Mesopotamia.273 This building was under the jurisdiction of the levitical priests (1 Chron. 23:27–28). These chambers were living and working quarters for priests who were responsible for different functions within the temple.274 We can surmise that Jeremiah takes the Recabites to the room of the sons of Hanan because that is where they store the wine.

Aramean armies (35:11). We have already mentioned (see comments on 34:1) that Nebuchadnezzar availed himself of all the military support that his vassal kingdoms could offer in order to conquer Jerusalem. The mere fact that the Recabites have sought refuge in the city of Jerusalem indicates that Nebuchadnezzar and his allied forces have control of most of the Judean region and that they are closing in on Jerusalem, the capital city.

Levant in the Early Sixth Century

The Arameans are known today by the modern name of Syrians.275 However, in the eleventh to ninth centuries B.C., the Arameans were present all along the Euphrates from Babylon to Carchemish. As such they posed a constant problem to the Assyrian empire.276 During the time of Jeremiah, the Aramean army was under the control of Nebuchadnezzar and had to support the Babylonian king’s needs. We know that shortly after Nebuchadnezzar’s rise to power in Babylon, he moved into Syria practically unopposed to exact tribute and to punish rebellious towns or territories.277 This kind of action, along with the defeat of the Egyptian army at Carchemish in 605 B.C., just before his accession to the throne (see comments on 1:2 and 20:4), would have guaranteed that Nebuchadnezzar could count on Aramean support to attack Jerusalem. The entire region to the north and northeast of Judah was under Babylonian control.

Furthermore, a biblical source tells of a coalition of forces composed of Arameans, Moabites, Ammonites, and Babylonians that created havoc in Judah around 599–598 B.C. (2 Kings 24:2). Babylonian military incursions into Judah from 605–597 B.C. were common, and these would have been accompanied by the aid of vassal states.