And I said after she had done , etc.; rather, and I said , After she hath done all these things , she will return unto me . And her treacherous sister . Observe the distinction between the two sisters. Israel had openly broken the political and religious connection with Jehovah ( Hosea 8:4 ); Judah nominally retained both, but her heart was towards the false gods (comp. the allegory in Ezekiel 23:1-49 ; which is evidently founded upon our passage). read more
And I saw, when for all the causes , etc.; rather, and I saw that even because apostate Israel had , etc. But this is exceedingly strange in this connection. The preceding words seem to compel us either (with the Vulgate) to omit "and I saw" altogether, or (with Ewald) to read the first letter of the verb differently, and render "and she saw," taking up the statement of Jeremiah 3:7 ("saw; yea, she saw," etc.). The latter view is favored by a phrase in Jeremiah 3:10 (see note below).... read more
Through the lightness of her whoredom ; i . e . through the slight importance which she attached to her whoredom. So apparently the ancient versions. The only sense, however, which the word kol ever has in Hebrew is not "lightness," but "sound," "voice," and perhaps "rumor" ( Genesis 45:16 ). Hence it is more strictly accurate to render "through the cry." etc. (comp. Genesis 4:10 ; Genesis 19:13 ), or "through the fame," etc.. But neither of these seems quite suitable to the... read more
For all this ; i . e . though Judah had seen the punishment of apostate Israel ( Jeremiah 3:7 , Jeremiah 3:8 ). So Rashi, Naegelsbach, Payne Smith. Most commentators suppose the phrase to refer to Judah's obstinate wickedness ( Jeremiah 3:9 ), but this gives a weak sense. "Judah defiled the land, etc; and yet notwithstanding her repentance was insincere"—this is by no means a natural sequence of ideas. The right exposition increases the probability of the correction proposed at... read more
Insincere repentances. I. REPENTANCE IS INSINCERE WHEN IT DOES NOT POSSESS THE WHOLE HEART . Judah is accused of being "false," and of turning to Jehovah "feignedly," because she did not turn "with her whole heart." 1. True repentance must be found in the heart . Mere confession with the lip without a change of feeling is a mockery ( Isaiah 29:13 ). Simple amendment of external conduct is no repentance unless it is prompted by a sincere desire to do... read more
It is very noteworthy that Jeremiah should have still so warm a feeling for the exiles of the northern kingdom (more than a hundred years after the great catastrophe). Hath justified herself . "To justify" can mean "to show one's self righteous," as well as "to make one's self righteous," just as "to sanctify" can mean, "to show one's self holy" ( Isaiah 8:13 ), as well as "to make one's self holy." In spite of Israel's apostasy, she has shown herself less worthy of punishment than Judah,... read more
The comparative advantages of Judah and Israel; professors and non-professors. I. LET JUDAH AND ISRAEL BE TAKEN AS REPRESENTING RESPECTIVELY PROFESSORS OF RELIGION AND THOSE WHO MAKE NO SUCH PROFESSION . Judah did make such profession, but Israel stood aloof, neither worshipping at the temple nor joining in the appointed feasts. II. OBSERVE THAT ISRAEL IS SAID TO HAVE " JUSTIFIED HERSELF MORE ," ETC . ( Jeremiah 3:11 .) ... read more
Backsliding Israel - The original is very strong: Hast thou seen Apostasy? i. e., Israel: as though Israel were the very personificatiom of the denial of God.She is gone up - Rather, she goes; it is her habitual practice. read more
Or, “And I said (i. e., within myself), After she has done all these things, she will return to me.” But she did not return.Treacherous - literally, “Falsehood,” i. e., false, faithless. The character of the two sisters is plainly marked. Samaria is apostate; she abandons Yahweh’s worship altogether. Judah maintains the form only; her secret desires are set upon the orgies of pagan worship. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 3:6-10
An old and sad but very true story. I. GOD LOOKING FOR FRUIT BUT NONE FORTHCOMING . 1. The fruit God looked for was Judah's repentance (cf. the history of the times to which Jeremiah refers). Idolatry was rampant in the northern kingdom. The southern also had been very far from free from it. But at this time God looked for a true repentance on Judah's part. 2. And such fruit was reasonably expected. There was the personal example and influence of King Josiah and the... read more