“The descendants of Jonadab,
The son of Rechab,
Have carried out
The command
That their ancestor gave them.
But this people
Has not obeyed me.
Therefore,
Thus says Yahweh!
The God of hosts!
The God of Israel!
I am going to bring
On Judah,
On all the inhabitants of Jerusalem
Every disaster
That I have pronounced
Against them.
Because I have spoken to them.
They have not listened.
I have called to them.
They have not answered.’”
Yahweh is upset that the descendents of Jonadab, the Rechabite, have followed Jonadab’s command not to drink wine. But the people of Judah and Jerusalem have not obeyed Yahweh himself. Therefore the God of hosts and the God of Israel was going to bring on them all the disasters that he had proclaimed against them. He had spoken. They had not listened. He had called them, but they did not answer. Watch out Judah and Jerusalem!
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 