And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.
After many days - time enough was given for the girdle to become unfit for use. So in course of time the Jews became corrupted by the pagan idolatries around, so as to cease to be witnesses of Yahweh: they must therefore be cast away as a "married" or spoiled girdle.