Jeremiah 3:19 to Jeremiah 4:4. A Dialogue of Yahweh's Grace. This directly continues Jeremiah 3:5, the I of Jeremiah 3:19 being emphatically contrasted with the thou of Jeremiah 3:5. Yahweh expresses His desire (Jeremiah 3:19 mg.) to give Judah, though a daughter, a son's portion in the best of lands (mg. 2), but Judah (here called Israel in narrower sense, Jeremiah 3:20) has left Him. When, speechless, she weeps in penitence (Jeremiah 3:21) on the bare heights, the place of her former sin, Yahweh will bid her return to Him; she comes making confession that Baal (Jeremiah 3:24 mg.) has not profited her. Yahweh assures Judah (Jeremiah 4:1) that true penitence will be followed by the conversion of the heathen, who will use Yahweh's name in blessings (Isaiah 65:16). Let Judah, then, reform in earnest (Jeremiah 4:3; cf. Hosea 10:12), with an inner consecration, before Yahweh punishes (Jeremiah 4:4).
Jeremiah 3:19. children: sons; (cf. Hosea 11:1 ff.)
Jeremiah 3:23. Some word parallel to tumult (better throng with mg.) has fallen out (RV italics); the cult of Baal is meant by both; cf. 1 Kings 18:26 ff.
Jeremiah 4:1. Read mg. 1 ; for the first shalt render if. abominations denote such heathen emblems as are named in Jeremiah 2:27, etc.