Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 3:12

12 ¶ Go , and proclaim these words toward the north , and say, Return thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: For I am merciful , saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.

It may possibly be used here as an Adverb of exciting, namely go to, as is usual, or it notes speed, go quickly out of hand not locally, but set thy face, chap. 2.2. or feet that way or by thy office, address thy self to them, viz. by way of Proclamation crying aloud; possibly implying the distance of place, this voice may in time reach them, though a great way off. Or rather the deafness of Israel, or the [illegible: 1 letter]bdurateness of Iudah, that they might hear what God saith to Israel, conceive hope and be reclaimed by their example, and be excited to emulation.

i. e. To Assyria and Media and the regions thereabouts that lay Northward from Iudea, whither the Ten Tribes were carried by Tiglath-Pileser, and Salmaneser, 2 King. 15.29. and 17.6.

Upon condition of returning to their former true Worship of God, that thereby Iudah might be awakened, he promiseth that he will not let his anger, or his face, as in the hebrew, because anger principally appears in the face, his angry face or countenance to be upon them, so it is used, Lev. 17.10. Psal. 34.16. and not be inexorable, viz. for ever, which is to be supplyed from the next words: for otherwise his anger lay heavy upon them at this time.

A metaphor from things on high that drop down to the hurt of whatever is under it, and so chap. 23.24. compare Gen. 19.24.

Here is the ground of this conditional promise, taken from the nature of God, that sinners may not despair, Psal. 86.15. and 103.8, 9. &c.

Marginal references: verse 5.