Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 3:1

1 THey say , if a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and becomes another mans, shall he return unto her again ? Shall not that land be greatly polluted ? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.

Or, men use to say, if this, with the four following verses, belong to the former Chapter, then it seems to express Gods condescension to them, that though, if a Woman forsake her Husband, and be married to another man, the Law will not permit him to receive her again, yet God would receive thee again upon thy returning to him, but thou chusest rather obstinately to adhere to thy other confidences, wherein thou shalt not prosper. But, if we look upon them, as beginning a new Argument, then here God declares his readiness to receive them again upon their Repentance, though it be very unusual for Husbands so to do, when their Wives have proved treacherous unto them in betaking themselves to other Husbands, and so this chapter may very well begin, with such a proverbial speech they say, or men use to say, or it is commonly said.

Or give her a bill of Divorce, Deut. 24.1.

q. d. He cannot take her again according to the Law, Deut. 24.1, 2, 3, 4. Or, rather will a man do such a thing? If the Law were not against it, would any man be so easily wrought upon, as to take her again? No certainly, it is an argunment from the less to the greater, to set forth Gods great lenity towards them, q. d. if an Husband should turn away his Wife, meerly because he pleased her not, though she gave him no just cause, and she should bestow her self on another, he would not be reconciled to her, neither might he take her again, but you have gone a Whoring from me, and sufficiently provoked me to reject, and turn you off. I will dispence with my own Law for your sakes, and will act by my prerogative, I am ready to be reconciled to follow them, that fly from me, as in the close of the verse, and Zec. 1.3. and Mal. 3.7. God will pardon sins of Apostacy▪ and falls after Repentance.

Heb. In being prophane be prophaned would not so great a sin greatly pollute a State, or Nation, Lev. 18.27, 28, It must needs be polluted by such Marriages to, and fro, and promiscuous couplings, Deut. 24.4.

Not with one only, as being sufficient to make thee an Adulteress, but a common Strumpet, joyning in fellowship with divers associates, and companions, or many Idols.

Marginal references: Heb. saying.