Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 13:11

11 For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel, and the whole house of Judah saith the LORD, that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory : but they would not hear .

Here God openeth to the Prophet, why he commanded him to put the girdle about his loins, viz. to shew that he of his singular favour, had used the Jews as a man useth his girdle which he fasteneth about his loins, and as a man weareth his girdle, made up of some costly materials for an honour and praise to him, so Gods design in honouring this people, wearing them as a girdle; was that they might bring him honour and glory, living to his praise, in the obedience of his commands especially such commands as related to his worship.

But they would not answer Gods designs, nor hearken to any counsels of that nature which he gave them, and therefore he was resolved to pluck them from his loins, and to suffer them to rot, and consume as that girdle was rotted. See Psal. 81. from verse 8. to the end, which the Authour of the English Annotations saith well, is an excellent Comment on this Text.