This document is about Jonadab (son_of_Rechab). For other homonyms, please refer to the Jonadab document. He was the son of Rechab. In 2 Kings 10:15, he is recorded as Jehonadab. He commanded his descendants not to drink wine and to live in tents, which his descendants faithfully observed.
2 Kings 10:15He said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for Yahweh.” So they made him ride in his chariot.
Jeremiah 35:5But they said, “We will drink no wine; for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, neither you, nor your sons, forever.Jeremiah 35:6You shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, or have any; but all your days you shall dwell in tents, that you may live many days in the land in which you live as nomads.’Jeremiah 35:7We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters;Jeremiah 35:8and not to build houses for ourselves to dwell in. We have no vineyard, field, or seed;Jeremiah 35:9but we have lived in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.Jeremiah 35:10But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, we said, ‘Come! Let’s go to Jerusalem) for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians; so we will dwell at Jerusalem.’ ”Jeremiah 35:11Then Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah, saying,Jeremiah 35:12“Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction to listen to my words?” says Yahweh.Jeremiah 35:13“The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab that he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; and to this day they drink none, for they obey their father’s commandment; but I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking, and you have not listened to me.Jeremiah 35:14I have sent also to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Every one of you must return now from his evil way, amend your doings, and don’t go after other gods to serve them, then you will dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers:’ but you have not inclined your ear, nor listened to me.Jeremiah 35:15The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father which he commanded them, but this people has not listened to me.” ’Jeremiah 35:16“Therefore Yahweh, the God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them; because I have spoken to them, but they have not heard; and I have called to them, but they have not answered.’ ”Jeremiah 35:17Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, “Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according to all that he commanded you;’Jeremiah 35:18therefore Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jonadab the son of Rechab will not lack a man to stand before me forever.’ ”Jeremiah 35:19therefore Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jonadab the son of Rechab will not lack a man to stand before me forever.’ ”