35:1–2 Jeremiah 35 describes a symbolic-act prophecy (see Jer.18)—that is, a prophecy that is accompanied by a dramatic action that illustrates the verbal oracle. The events of this chapter are dated to the reign of Jehoiakim, which scrolls back the time from the previous oracle that dated to the last few months of the reign of Zedekiah. We know that Jehoiakim reigned from 609–598 B.C. Later in the chapter Jonadab, the leader of the Recabites, will state that they are in Jerusalem because of the siege of the Babylonians. While this conceivably could be a reference to a siege mentioned in Daniel 1:1–3, which took place in 605 B.C., it is more likely that it is in reference to the later attack of the Babylonians in 597.

35:3–11 The symbolic-act concerned a family known as the Recabites, nam…