For these sons of Jonadab the prophet had a not
unnatural admiration. He invites some of their
representatives ^ to a feast in one of the chambers,
or halls, within the Temple courts * and places before
them beakers of wine such as a seasoned toper might
assay. They had no need to excuse themselves to
the prophet, when they refused to drink. Would to
God that all were as faithful to their vows, as loyal
to the traditions of their past, as were these stalwart
sons of the Desert ; so thinks the prophet. " Thus
saith Jahveh of Hosts, God of Israel, go and say to
the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
Will ye not receive instruction and hearken to my
words ? saith Jahveh. The words of Jonadab, the son
of Rechab, which he commanded his sons not to drink
wine are established ; and to this day they drink
none, for they obey their father's instruction. But I
have spoken unto you, rising up early and speaking,
and ye have not hearkened unto me." The contrast
is striking. Jonadab, the son of Rechab, had been
dead for more than two centuries. He was a mere
name to these men ; he had done nothing for them ;
he had no power to enforce his commands. What he
required of them was, if wise and wholesome, still,
imder existing circumstances, an irksome restraint.
^ In verse 3, instead of : And all his sons, read (with the
LXX) : and his sons.
