(3) Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah . . .--The names (Jaazaniah = Jehovah hears, Jeremiah = Jehovah exalts, Habaziniah = Jehovah gathers) are not without significance, as showing that the Rechabites were sharers in the faith of Israel, perhaps, as an order, conspicuous witnesses for that faith. The name Jeremiah may possibly indicate that there was some previous connexion between the Rechabites and the prophet's family.
His brethren, and all his sons . . .--The words may be taken in their literal sense, but on the assumption that the Rechabites were a religious order rather than a family, the terms may indicate different stages or degrees of membership, the "brethren" being those who were fully incorporated, the "sons," those who like "the sons of the prophets" (2 Kings 4:38; 2 Kings 6:1; 2 Kings 9:1; Amos 7:14) were still in training as probationers. Such a use of the word "brethren" would grow naturally out of that of "sons," and is found in this wider sense of priests and Levites (1 Chronicles 15:5-18; 1 Chronicles 26:7-32 and elsewhere) and of prophets (Revelation 22:9).
35:1-11 Jonadab was famous for wisdom and piety. He lived nearly 300 years before, 2Ki 10:15. Jonadab charged his posterity not to drink wine. He also appointed them to dwell in tents, or movable dwelling: this would teach them not to think of settling any where in this world. To keep low, would be the way to continue long in the land where they were strangers. Humility and contentment are always the best policy, and men's surest protection. Also, that they might not run into unlawful pleasures, they were to deny themselves even lawful delights. The consideration that we are strangers and pilgrims should oblige us to abstain from all fleshly lusts. Let them have little to lose, and then losing times would be the less dreadful: let them sit loose to what they had, and then they might with less pain be stript of it. Those are in the best frame to meet sufferings who live a life of self-denial, and who despise the vanities of the world. Jonadab's posterity observed these rules strictly, only using proper means for their safety in a time of general suffering.
Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah,.... Who was, no doubt, the most famous and leading man in this family:
and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites; the several branches of the family, especially the males; the women perhaps only excepted; whom it might not be so decent to gather together on such an occasion, to drink wine; or at least offer it to them.
His brethren, and all his sons . . .--The words may be taken in their literal sense, but on the assumption that the Rechabites were a religious order rather than a family, the terms may indicate different stages or degrees of membership, the "brethren" being those who were fully incorporated, the "sons," those who like "the sons of the prophets" (2 Kings 4:38; 2 Kings 6:1; 2 Kings 9:1; Amos 7:14) were still in training as probationers. Such a use of the word "brethren" would grow naturally out of that of "sons," and is found in this wider sense of priests and Levites (1 Chronicles 15:5-18; 1 Chronicles 26:7-32 and elsewhere) and of prophets (Revelation 22:9).
and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites; the several branches of the family, especially the males; the women perhaps only excepted; whom it might not be so decent to gather together on such an occasion, to drink wine; or at least offer it to them.