Глава 35

Having completed this prophecy, the Prophet recalls the previous prophecy. For (Jer.35:1) “in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Joshin,” “king of Judah,” he was commanded to bring the sons of Rechab into the church of God, and (Jer.35:2) “together from the courts” to bring them wine. And I, says the Prophet, fulfilled the commandment, setting up (Jer. 35:5) “pots” full of wine, and ordered them to drink. But they objected, saying: Jer.35:6. We do not drink wine, for Jonadab, the son of Rechavel, our father commanded us, saying, “You and your sons shall not drink wine forever!” (Jer.35:7). “And you shall not build a church, and you shall not sow seed, and you shall not plant grapes, neither shall you have any; but you shall live in booths all your days; May you live many days on the earth, on which you dwell.” Having listened to these words, they say, we, with our wives and children, kept the commandments of our fathers, did not build houses for ourselves, did not worry about agriculture, but until now we continued to live in booths, and now, with the invasion of the Babylonians, we are forced to seek refuge in this city. The law of the father and the obedience of his sons and grandsons are worthy of surprise; for they loved a carefree and untroubled life, and, what is most surprising, having children, they did not care about acquiring property in everything that concerned them, abandoning their trust in God. And if during the time of the law, which was not perfect, because of the weakness of those who accepted the law, they loved such high wisdom, then what kind of people would they become if they heard the law of the Gospel? But the God of all commands the Prophet to say to everyone living in Jerusalem: Behold, the sons of Rechab, keeping the commandment of their father, did not agree to drink wine, and you, listening to the prophetic instructions day and night, do not live according to My laws. For this I will bring all kinds of disasters upon you. For the descendants of Rechab, who have kept the commandment of their fathers, God promises the best of blessings, and says: Jer.35:19. The man shall not fail from the sons of Jonah, the son of Rechabel; stand before me all the days of the earth. You should know that everyone who keeps these laws is called the son of Jonadab, the son of Rechabel.