9 Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:
9 or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops.
9 and not to build houses to dwell in. We have no vineyard or field or seed,
9 We don't build houses. We don't have vineyards or fields or gardens.
9 nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; nor do we have vineyard, field, or seed.
9 We haven't built houses or owned vineyards or farms or planted crops.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 35:9
Commentary on Jeremiah 35:1-11
(Read Jeremiah 35:1-11)
Jonadab was famous for wisdom and piety. He lived nearly 300 years before, 2 Kings 10:15. Jonadab charged his posterity not to drink wine. He also appointed them to dwell in tents, or movable dwelling: this would teach them not to think of settling any where in this world. To keep low, would be the way to continue long in the land where they were strangers. Humility and contentment are always the best policy, and men's surest protection. Also, that they might not run into unlawful pleasures, they were to deny themselves even lawful delights. The consideration that we are strangers and pilgrims should oblige us to abstain from all fleshly lusts. Let them have little to lose, and then losing times would be the less dreadful: let them sit loose to what they had, and then they might with less pain be stript of it. Those are in the best frame to meet sufferings who live a life of self-denial, and who despise the vanities of the world. Jonadab's posterity observed these rules strictly, only using proper means for their safety in a time of general suffering.