Verses 1-5
Jeremiah 3:1-Deuteronomy : . Israel’ s Infidelity.— (Some introductory formula, like that of Jeremiah 2:1, has dropped out before Jeremiah 3:1; note mg.) . Israel’ s marital unfaithfulness to Yahweh is too gross for a facile repentance to avail. The analogy of the law of divorce ( mg. reference) suggests that Israel cannot deal with her Divine Husband as lightly as she will. She has waited for her lovers as persistently as a nomad plunderer for his victims. The loss of that prosperity which depended on the latter rain (of the spring) has brought no compunction. Recent promises have not been kept.
Jeremiah 3:1 . land should be “ woman” , with LXX; mg. 3 to be read.
Jeremiah 3:4 . Render “ Hast thou not just cried; some see a reference here and in Jeremiah 3:5 to the Reformation under Josiah, and its relative failure.— guide is “ friend” or lover ( cf. mg.) ; for the idea of Yahweh as both “ father” and “ husband” to Israel, see Hosea 2:16; Hosea 11:1.
Jeremiah 3:5 . hast. . . done: read mg.
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