19. — Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.] When the main body of the Jewish nation are dispersed in their several cap- tivities, some of the family of the Rechabites shall remain to attend upon my service, and enjoy the privileges of worshipping in my temple at Jerusalem. For to stand in the presence of a prince implies an attendance in some degree upon his person and service, 1 Kings x. 8: and therefore to "stand before God" must denote at least the privilege of treading his courts, and worshipping Him among the train of his chosen servants and followers. Some branches of this family returned from the captivity, as appears from 1 Chron. ii. 55. The expression "for ever" is not always to be taken in a strict sense; but often means only a long continuance, and is used comparatively with respect to a shorter duration. See the notes on chap. xxv. 9; xxxii. 40. W. Lowth. Of so great price in the sight of God is the virtue of filial duty and obedience, that it seldom fails of its reward even in this world. The law, which enjoined it, had a promise of long life annexed thereto, Exod. xx. 12: and it is distinguished by the Apostle as "the first commandment with promise," Eph. vi. 2. And by this history of the Rechabites we may learn, that the surest way to entail a blessing on our children, and to perpetuate our names and families in a numerous and virtuous issue, is to reverence and obey our own parents. Wogan. Chap. XXXVI. ver. 2. — a roll of a book.] Compare Isa. viii. 1; Ezek. ii. 9; Zech. v. 1. The ancient man- The princes send for Baruch. The king burneth the roll. Before CHRIST about 606. 20. And they went in to the king into the court.] They were before in the king's house, ver. 12; that is, in the exterior precincts of the palace, where were apartments and offices fitted up for the principal officers of state, and for the attendants of the court. But from what is here said it appears, that there was an interior range of building for the king's personal residence, disposed, as is the fashion of the great houses of the East at this day, round an open court or quadrangle, and containing apartments appropriated for summer and winter use. Dr. Blayney. 22. — in the winterhouse] There is a distinction made in the Prophets between winter and summer houses, here, and in Amos iii. 15. Probably this may be illustrated by the accounts given by Dr. Shaw of the country seats and gardens about Algiers, whither the inhabitants of better fashion retire during the heat of the summer. Harmer. Or, what the Prophets here say may be understood of the different apartments in the same house. Dr. Russell. See the preceding note. — in the ninth month:] Answering to the end of November, and the beginning of December. See the notes on Exod. xii. 2; xiii. 4. — there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.] In many parts of the East it is usual to have great brassiers of lighted coals for fires, the manner in which persons sit, not allowing them to be near a chimney. This was probably the sort of fire burning before Jeheiaakin. Accordingly, in the Latin Vulgate, the word which we render "hearth," is translated by one signifying a little altar. Sir J. Chardin, Dr. Blayney.