ירמיהו, פרק ל״ה, פסוק י״ח

Jeremiah addresses the Rechabite family, delivering a message from God that praises their absolute and consistent loyalty to the instructions of their ancestor, Jehonadab. Their obedience goes beyond mere listening; they fully accepted his words and agreed to them [מצודת דוד], directing themselves entirely toward his commands.

This remarkable loyalty is characterized by a dual commitment to both guarding the tradition and actively carrying it out. One perspective views this duality as the relationship between internal devotion and external action. Guarding reflects a deep internal commitment within the heart, ensuring the instructions are never forgotten. Carrying them out represents the actual, physical execution of all the directives, even though there are many of them [מצודת דוד].

A complementary approach understands this twofold commitment by dividing their actions into different categories of rules. In this view, guarding refers to their strict adherence to the negative prohibitions set by Jehonadab, such as the restrictions against drinking wine, building houses, and planting vineyards. Conversely, the active aspect of their obedience points to the fulfillment of his positive command, which is the ongoing practice of living in tents [מלבי״ם].