Jeremiah 3:6-18

Israel's Sin less than Judah's. This passage interrupts the continuity of Jeremiah 3:19 with Jeremiah 3:5 (note also the interruptive introductory formula, Jeremiah 3:6), and seems to be a separate prophecy, though it employs the predominant figure of this section, i.e. the marriage of Yahweh and His people, and is probably by Jeremiah (to Jeremiah 3:16). The northern kingdom was faithless to this marriage, through the Baal-cult; Yahweh waited for her return in vain (Jeremiah 3:7 mg.), and at length divorced her (Jeremiah 3:8; see on Jeremiah 3:1). Judah saw the consequences of that divorce, in the devastation of Israel (a century earlier), without learning the lesson, and repeated the offence. Such repentance as Judah did show (in the Deuteronomic Reformation?) was unreal, and her sin was worse than Israel's, because the fate of Israel was before her eyes as a warning. The prophet now (Jeremiah 3:12 ff.) invites Israel, or at least its righteous remnant (Jeremiah 3:14; cf. Isaiah 1:25 f.), to return to Him, that they may be restored to their land under worthy kings (shepherds); the Ark, as the external sign of His presence, will no longer be needed (Jeremiah 3:16, both mgg.). This prophecy has been expanded by a Messianic promise that Jerusalem shall be the religious centre of the changed world (Jeremiah 3:17) and that Judah shall share in the return of Israel (Jeremiah 3:18).

Jeremiah 3:9. The Hebrew reads She was polluted with the land, which RV silently emends, as often; read she polluted the land with Vulg. and Targ.

Jeremiah 3:10. Omit her and sister, with LXX.

Jeremiah 3:17. Omit, with LXX, to the name of the Lord to Jerusalem. Note that backsliding (Jeremiah 3:6; Jeremiah 3:11; Jeremiah 3:14, etc.) should be back-turning, with play in return (Jeremiah 3:7, etc) on the double sense of turn back, i.e. from and to Yahweh.