Yet, even at the prophet’s hand the Rechabites refused to drink. They explained:

“We shall drink no wine, because Jonadab the son of Rechab, our forefather, was the one that laid the command upon us, saying, ‘You must drink no wine, neither you nor your sons, to time indefinite.

They did not interfere with the Israelites in carrying out their covenant with Jehovah, but, rather, went along with the Law covenant as far as it applied to them. Yet, when it came to drinking alcoholic beverages, they were like Israelite Nazirites. By remaining sober, they kept their senses.

16. How did the vow-keeping Rechabites furnish Jehovah with an example to use against the covenant-breaking Israelites, and what did he find it needful to bring upon them?

¹⁶ Their doggedly sticking to their vow against wine drinking, even when invited by the prophet-priest Jeremiah, furnished Jehovah with an example to use against the covenant-breaking Israelites. The Rechabites kept their vow, even though it was imposed upon them by a mere man, their forefather.