Jeremiah 3
COA1655The five first verses seeme to belong to the former Chapter and Sermon.
Jeremiah 3:1
shall he returne unto her againe?] Clearly No. And the Law expressely forbids it, Deut. XXIV. 1,—4. Neither could his heart brook it.
Jeremiah 3:2
lien with] So, Deut. XXVIII. 30. In both places the over-mannerly Masorets check the Pen-men of Scripture, in appointing an honester terme to be read, in the roome of that they found written. See the Observations on 2 Kings X. 27.
as the Arabian] As Thamar did, Gen. XXXVIII. 14. See Ezek. XVI. 24, 25, 31. or to truck and trade with them.
Jeremiah 3:4
from this time] Of my Correcting thee, and admonishing thee, v. 3. and chap. II. 25.
My Father] Lamenting, as a childe to his father offended.
Jeremiah 3:5
thou hast spoken] As formerly, v. 4, 5.
and done evil things] But still doest evily and wickedly.
as thou couldest] Get opportunity, and have ability; As, Micah II. 1.
Jeremiah 3:6
A new Sermon in Josiah’s dayes.
backsliding Israel] The revolt of the then Tribes: and Gods Bill of divorce thereupon given her.
Jeremiah 3:7
her treacherous sister Judah] Not fearing, or mending by that example: proves worse then Israel, v. 11.
Jeremiah 3:10
but feignedly] In the dayes of good Josiah. For all that he could do, yet the generality of the people never turned unto God with their whole heart, as too well appeared by their sudden relapse and revolt presently after his death, 2 Kings XXIII. 32,—37. 2 Chron. XXXVI. 12, 14.
Jeremiah 3:12
North] Whither the ten Tribes were carried. Not that he was to go thither: but to proclaime, setting his face towards it. So, Ezek. XX. 46. and XXI. 2.
Jeremiah 3:14
one of a Citie] God would make such an exact enquirie and search for them, upon their sincere turning to him, in all places of their dispersion, that though there should be but some one only of them in a Citie, or some two only in a whole Countrey, yet he would, &c. See a parallel place, Esay XXVII. 12.
Jeremiah 3:16
in those dayes] After the enlargement and growth of the Church under the Messias.
The Arke] An utter cessation of Legal Rites, under the Messias. Now they should have no misse of it, no want, or use of it at all.
Jeremiah 3:17
Jerusalem] Gods Church; whereof that was a Type, Cal. IV. 26. Apoc. XXI. 2. See Esay LX. 14.
And all the Nations] Esay II. 2.
neither shall they] Israelites, or Proselyte-Gentiles.
Jeremiah 3:18
Iudah walk with the house of Israel] They shall be reconciled together.
land of the North] From Chaldea, and Assyria. The spiritual deliverance, and restitution of them by Christ, being shadowed out in these Prophetical Sermons, by those temporal deliverances and restaurations. So, chap. XXXI. and XXXIII. Esay XI. and LIV. and LX.
Jeremiah 3:19
But I said] I had such thoughts as these with my self.
How shall I] Demanding of them, how he should do so great things for them, whenas they had dealt so perfidiously with him, in times past, verse 6, 9, 13, 20. Somewhat like that, Hosea VI. 4. and XI. 8.
and I said] After such crosse thoughts to disswade me, yet at length I resolved to do it, upon the condition following; which in effect God promiseth to effect in them.
Jeremiah 3:20
surely as a wife] God requires her to engage her self to such future loyal carriage; because she had in this kinde beene very faulty before.
Jeremiah 3:21
A voice was heard] Or, is heard; as, Esay XIII. 4. bewailing their sins, ch. XXXI. 19, 18.
Jeremiah 3:22
Returne] Gods exhortation, and invitation.
we come] Their Answer; and Confession, to the end of the Chapter.