But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever:
But they said, 'We will not drink any wine, because Jonadab, the son of Rechab, our ancestor, commanded us: You and your descendants must never drink wine.'
The Rechabites are explaining that they refuse to drink wine because their ancestor commanded them and their families to never drink it.
📚 Historical Context
During the time of the prophet Jeremiah in ancient Judah, around the 7th century BC, the Rechabites were a nomadic group committed to following the strict commands of their ancestor Jonadab son of Rechab. Jonadab had instructed them not to drink wine as part of maintaining a simple, disciplined lifestyle, which Jeremiah highlighted to rebuke the Israelites for their unfaithfulness to God's laws. This narrative serves as a contrast between human loyalty to tradition and the people's disregard for divine commands.
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