Jer 3:1-5 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Jer 3:1-5: 3:1-5 Adultery was solid grounds for divorce (Deut 24:1-2 ; Hos 2:1-5 ; 9:1 ). Judah committed spiritual adultery, smugly assuming that God would have no objections (Ezek 16:26 ; Zech 1:3 ). 3:1 The law prohibited a man from marrying a woman he had previously divorced who had then married another man (Deut 24:1-4 ). A woman who had many lovers was even less likely to be received back.

Summary for Jer 3:1-5: 3:1-5 ^a Adultery was solid grounds for divorce (Deut 24:1-2 ^b; Hos 2:1-5 ^c; 9:1 ^d). Judah committed spiritual adultery, smugly assuming that God would have no objections (Ezek 16:26 ^e; Zech 1:3 ^f). 3:1 ^g The law prohibited a man from marrying a woman he had previously divorced who had then married another man (Deut 24:1-4 ^h). A woman who had many lovers was even less likely to be received back.
3:2 ⁱ As the Lord’s bride (see 2:2 ^j), Israel was not supposed to commit adultery with other gods.
3:3 ^k The Lord did not condone the shameless behavior of the people. He had already brought on a drought, and their sexual rituals had no effect against it (14:3-6 ^l; Lev 26:19 ^m; Zeph 3:5 ⁿ).
Summary for Jer 3:4-5: 3:4-5 ^o Instead of confessing their sins, the people tried to cover them over with sweet talk. However, God saw through their deception. They were inadvertently correct that he would not be angry forever (Ps 103:9 ^p; Isa 57:16 ^q; Mal 1:6 ^r), though he promised to vent his wrath (Jer 4:7 ^s).