Jeremiah 3

Jeremiah 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 ( Jeremiah 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 ( Jeremiah 3:6-25 ).

1. They say--rather, as Hebrew, "saying," in agreement with "the LORD"; Jeremiah 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 ( Deuteronomy 24:1-4 ).
shall not--Should not the land be polluted if this were done?
yet return--( Jeremiah 3:22 , Jeremiah 4:1 , Zechariah 1:3 ; compare Ezekiel 16:51 Ezekiel 16:58 Ezekiel 16:60 ). "Nevertheless," &c.

2. high places--the scene of idolatries which were spiritual adulteries.
In . . . ways . . . sat for them--watching for lovers like a prostitute ( Genesis 38:14 Genesis 38:21 , Proverbs 7:12 , 23:28 , Ezekiel 16:24 Ezekiel 16:25 ), 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 ( Leviticus 26:19 ; compare Joel 2:23 ).
whore's forehead--( Jeremiah 8:12 , Ezekiel 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" ( Jeremiah 2:27 , Luke 15:18 ).
thou art--rather, "thou wast."
guide of . . . youth--that is, husband ( Jeremiah 2:2 , Proverbs 2:17 , Hosea 2:7 Hosea 2:15 ). 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. Jeremiah 3:12 and Psalms 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].