Why the Rechabites Outshone Israel in Obedience and Wine

Blessed is the person who is not greedy for wine, for thus you find with the children of Jonadab ben Rechab, whose father commanded them and told them not to drink wine. And what did he see that they should not drink wine? Only that he heard Jeremiah prophesying that the Temple would be destroyed. He said to them: Be in mourning from now on. "You shall not build a house, [and you shall not sow seed,] and you shall not plant a vineyard, and you shall not have one, but you shall dwell in tents all your days" (Jeremiah 35:7). And they kept the commandment of their father. When Jeremiah was prophesying to Israel, telling them to repent, they would not do so. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Jeremiah: You tell them to repent and they do not do so; yet the children of Jonadab ben Rechab—their father commanded them a light commandment and they keep it, while I tell Israel to repent and they do not heed. As it is said: "The words of Jonadab ben Rechab have been upheld, who commanded his children not to drink wine, and they have not drunk to this day, for they have obeyed the commandment of their father; but I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, and you have not hearkened to Me" (Jeremiah 35:14). What is written there? The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Jeremiah: Say to them, by your lives, since you have kept this commandment, your families shall never cease from before Me. For thus it is written: "Therefore thus said the Lord [of hosts, the God of Israel]: There shall not be cut off a man belonging to Jonadab ben Rechab standing before Me all the days" (Jeremiah 35:19). Therefore He warns them concerning wine: "Drink no wine nor strong drink" (Leviticus 10:9). Isaiah cried out concerning wine: "There is an outcry over wine in the streets; all joy is darkened" (Isaiah 24:11). What is "all joy is darkened (arvah)"? All joy has grown dark, as you say, "And there was evening (erev)" (Genesis 1:5). "The gladness of the earth is exiled" (Isaiah 24:11)—for Zion has ceased, of which it is written, "Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth" (Psalms 48:3). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: In this world wine is a sign of a curse, but in the world to come I will make it into sweet juice, as it is said: "And it shall come to pass on that day that the mountains shall drip sweet juice" (Joel 4:18).