Yaram'Yahu (Jeremiah) — 35

The Faithful Recabites

1 This is the message 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH gave Yaramyahu when Yahuiakim son of Yusyahu was king of Yahudah: 

2 “Go to the settlement where the families of the Racabites live, and invite them to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH’s Temple, take them into one of the inner rooms, and offer them some wine.”

3 So I went to see Yaazanyahu son of Yaramyahu and grandson of Habazzinyah and all his brothers and sons representing all the Racabite families. 

4 I took them to the Temple, and we went into the room assigned to the sons of Hanan son of Igdalyahu, a servant of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, this room was located next to the one used by the Temple officials, directly above the room of Maasayahu son of Shallum, the Temple gatekeeper.

5 I set cups and jugs of wine before them and invited them to have a drink, 

6 but they refused. “No,” they said, “we do not drink wine, because our ancestor Yahunadab son of Racab gave us this command: ‘you and your descendants must never drink wine. 

7 And do not build houses or plant crops or vineyards, but always live in tents, If you follow these commands, you will live long, good lives in the land.’ 

8 So we have obeyed him in all these things. We have never had a drink of wine to this day, nor have our wives, our sons, or our daughters. 

9 We have not built houses or owned vineyards or farms or planted crops. 

10 We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed all the commands of Yahunadab, our ancestor. 

11 But when King Nabuchadnazzar of Babylun attacked this country, we were afraid of the Babylunians and Syrians armies, So we decided to move to Yahushalam, that is why we are here.”

12 Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH gave this message to Yaramyahu: 

13 “This is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Tsaba'ut the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL Dabar Go and say to the people in Yahudah and Yahushalam, ‘Come and learn a lesson about how to obey me. 

14 The Racabites do not drink wine to this day because their ancestor Yahunadab told them not to, But I have spoken to you again and again, and you refuse to obey me. 

15 Time after time I sent you Nabyms, who told you, “Turn from your wicked ways, and start doing things right, Stop worshiping other nations idols so that you might live in Shalum here in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you would not listen to me or obey me. 

16 The descendants of Yahunadab son of Racab have obeyed their ancestor completely, but you have refused to listen to me.’

17 “Therefore, this is what  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Tsaba'ut the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL Dabar: ‘Because you refuse to listen or answer when I call, I will send upon Yahudah and Yahushalam all the disasters I have pronounced.’”

18 Then Yaramyahu turned to the Racabites and said, “this is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Tsaba'ut the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL Dabar: ‘You have obeyed your ancestor Yahunadab in every respect, following all his instructions.’ 

19 Therefore, this is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Tsaba'ut the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL Dabar: ‘Yahunadab son of Racab will always have descendants who serve me.’”