Here God contrasts the obedience of the Rechabites with the disobedience and rebellion of His people, who will not receive His words of reproof and warning. The Rechabites obeyed the commandment of their father and refused to be enticed into transgression of his requirements. But Israel refused to hearken unto the Lord. He says: “I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking, but ye hearkened not unto Me. I have sent also unto you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto Me. Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto Me; therefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered. {4T 174.4}

Her sættes rekabitternes lydighed i kontrast med hans folks ulydighed og oprør og som ikke vil tage imod hans irettesættelse og advarsel. Rekabitterne adlød deres faders befaling og nægtede at fristes til overtrædelse af hans befalinger. Men Israel (175) nægtede at lytte til Herren. Han siger: »Jeg har talet til eder årle og silde, uden at i ville høre mig. Jeg sendte alle mine tjenere profeterne til eder årle og silde, for at de skulle sige: »Omvend Eder hver fra sin onde vej, gør gode gerninger og hold eder ikke til andre guder, så i dyrker dem; så skal I bo i det land, jeg gav eder og eders fædre.« Men i bøjede ikke eders øre og hørte mig ikke. Fordi Jonadabs, Rekabs søns, sønner overholdt deres faders bud, medens dette folk ikke ville høre mig, derfor, så siger Herren, Hærskares Gud, Israels Gud: Se, jeg bringer over Juda og Jerusalems borgere al den ulykke, jeg har truet dem med, fordi de ikke hørte, da jeg talede og ikke svarede, da jeg kaldte ad dem.