The Family Line of Rekab
1A message from the Lord came to Jeremiah. It came during the time Jehoiakim was king over Judah. Jehoiakim was the son of Josiah. The message said, 2“Go to the members of the family line of Rekab. Invite them to come to one of the side rooms in my house. Then give them wine to drink.”
3So I went to get Jaazaniah. He was the son of Jeremiah. Jeremiah was the son of Habazziniah. I also went to get Jaazaniah’s brothers and all his sons. That included all the members of the family line of Rekab. 4I brought them into the Lord’s house. I took them into the room of the sons of Hanan. He was the son of Igdaliah. He was also a man of God. His room was next to the room of the officials. Their room was above the room of Maaseiah. He was the son of Shallum. He also was one of those who guarded the temple doors. 5Then I got bowls full of wine and some cups. I set them down in front of the men from the family line of Rekab. I said to them, “Drink some wine.”
6But they replied, “We don’t drink wine. That’s because Jehonadab gave us a command. He was the son of Rekab. He was also one of our own people from long ago. He commanded, ‘You and your children after you must never drink wine. 7Also you must never build houses. You must never plant crops or vineyards. You must never have any of these things. Instead, you must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are wandering around.’ 8We have done everything Jehonadab, the son of Rekab, commanded us to do. So we and our wives and our children have never drunk wine. 9We have never built houses to live in. We’ve never had vineyards, fields or crops. 10We’ve always lived in tents. We’ve completely obeyed everything Jehonadab commanded our people of long ago. 11But Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, marched into this land. Then we said, ‘Come. We must go to Jerusalem. There we can escape the armies of Babylon and Aram.’ So we have remained in Jerusalem.”
12Then a message from the Lord came to Jeremiah. It said, 13“The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, ‘Go. Speak to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. Tell them, “Won’t you ever learn a lesson? Won’t you ever obey my words?” announces the Lord. 14“Jehonadab, the son of Rekab, ordered his children not to drink wine. And they have kept his command. To this day they do not drink wine. They obey the command Jehonadab gave their people long ago. But I have spoken to you again and again. In spite of that, you have not obeyed me. 15Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, ‘Each of you must turn from your evil ways. You must change the way you act. Do not worship other gods. Do not serve them. Then you will live in the land. I gave it to you and your people of long ago.’ But you have not paid any attention. You have not listened to me. 16The children of Jehonadab, the son of Rekab, have obeyed the command Jehonadab gave them long ago. But the people of Judah have not obeyed me.” ’ ”
17So the Lord God who rules over all speaks. The God of Israel says, “Listen! I am going to bring horrible trouble on Judah. I will also bring it on everyone who lives in Jerusalem. I will bring on them every trouble I said I would. I spoke to them. But they did not listen. I called out to them. But they did not answer.”
18Then Jeremiah spoke to the members of the family line of Rekab. Jeremiah said, “The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, ‘You have obeyed the command Jehonadab gave your people of long ago. You have followed all his directions. You have done everything he ordered.’ 19So the Lord who rules over all speaks. The God of Israel says, ‘Jehonadab, the son of Rekab, will always have someone from his family line to serve me.’ ”
顺服的利甲族和悖逆的犹大人
1犹大王约西亚的儿子约雅敬执政期间，耶和华对耶利米说： 2“你去利甲族那里，邀请他们到耶和华殿的一间厢房，给他们酒喝。” 3于是，我将哈巴洗尼雅的孙子、雅利米雅的儿子雅撒尼亚，以及雅撒尼亚的弟兄和儿子等利甲全族的人， 4领到耶和华的殿，进入上帝的仆人伊基大利之子哈难众儿子的房间。这房间靠近官长的房间，在殿门守卫沙龙的儿子玛西雅的房间上面。 5我把盛满酒的杯和壶摆在利甲全族面前，请他们喝酒。 6他们却说：“我们不喝酒，因为我们的祖先利甲的儿子约拿达曾吩咐我们和我们的子孙永远不可喝酒、 7盖房、撒种、栽植葡萄或拥有葡萄园，一辈子都要住帐篷，以便在异乡长久居住。 8我们遵守他的一切吩咐，我们和我们的妻子儿女从不喝酒， 9不盖房，也没有葡萄园、田地和种子。 10我们住帐篷，遵守我们祖先约拿达的一切吩咐。 11但当巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒进攻这里的时候，我们决定来耶路撒冷躲避迦勒底和亚兰的军队。因此，我们现在住在耶路撒冷。”
12耶和华对耶利米说： 13“这是以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华的话，你去把我的话告诉犹大人和耶路撒冷的居民，‘耶和华说，你们要听从我的教导。 14利甲的儿子约拿达吩咐他的子孙不可喝酒，他们直到现在都不喝酒。但我屡次告诫你们，你们却不听我的话。 15我再三差遣我的仆人——众先知劝你们改邪归正，不要追随、祭拜别的神明，以便你们可以在我赐给你们和你们祖先的土地上安居乐业，你们却充耳不闻，毫不理会。 16利甲的儿子约拿达的子孙尚且听从他们祖先的吩咐，你们却不听从我的话。 17因此，以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华说，我要给犹大和耶路撒冷的居民降下我说过的灾祸。因为我对他们说话，他们不听；我呼唤他们，他们不理会。’”
18然后，耶利米对利甲族人说：“以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华说，‘你们听从祖先利甲的儿子约拿达的吩咐，遵守他的一切命令， 19因此，利甲的儿子约拿达的子孙必永远事奉我。这是以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华说的。’”
