‏ Jeremiah 3:1-5

CHAPTER 3

Jr 3:1-25. God's Mercy notwithstanding Judah's Vileness.

Contrary to all precedent in the case of adultery, Jehovah offers a return to Judah, the spiritual adulteress (Jr 3:1-5). A new portion of the book, ending with the sixth chapter. Judah worse than Israel; yet both shall be restored in the last days (Jr 3:6-25).

1. They say--rather, as Hebrew, "saying," in agreement with "the Lord"; Jr 2:37 of last chapter [Maurer]. Or, it is equivalent to, "Suppose this case." Some copyist may have omitted, "The word of the Lord came to me," saying.

shall he return unto her--will he take her back? It was unlawful to do so (De 24:1-4).

shall not--Should not the land be polluted if this were done?

yet return--(Jr 3:22; Jr 4:1; Zec 1:3; compare Eze 16:51, 58, 60). "Nevertheless," &c. (see on Is 50:1).

2. high places--the scene of idolatries which were spiritual adulteries.

In ... ways ... sat for them--watching for lovers like a prostitute (Ge 38:14, 21; Pr 7:12; 23:28; Eze 16:24, 25), and like an Arab who lies in wait for travellers. The Arabs of the desert, east and south of Palestine, are still notorious as robbers.

3. no latter rain--essential to the crops in Palestine; withheld in judgment (Le 26:19; compare Joe 2:23).

whore's forehead--(Jr 8:12; Eze 3:8).

4. from this time--not referring, as Michaelis thinks, to the reformation begun the year before, that is, the twelfth of Josiah; it means--now at once, now at last.

me--contrasted with the "stock" whom they had heretofore called on as "father" (Jr 2:27; Lu 15:18).

thou art--rather, "thou wast."

guide of ... youth--that is, husband (Jr 2:2; Pr 2:17; Ho 2:7, 15). Husband and father are the two most endearing of ties.

5. he--"thou," the second person, had preceded. The change to the third person implies a putting away of God to a greater distance from them; instead of repenting and forsaking their idols, they merely deprecate the continuance of their punishment. Jr 3:12 and Psa 103:9, answer their question in the event of their penitence.

spoken and--rather (God's reply to them), "Thou hast spoken (thus), and yet (all the while) thou hast done evil," &c.

as thou couldest--with all thy might; with incorrigible persistency [Calvin].