Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 3:14

14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion .

I am in Covenant with you, Deut. 29.1, 10, 11, 12, &c. and this Covenant notwithstanding all your unfaithfulness, I am ready to renew with you, Hos. 2.19, 20.

This word Family is not always to be taken strictly for an houshold; for then the expression would seem to imply more in a Family then in a City; but frequently for a Country or Nation, compare Gen. 12.3. with 22.18. Ezek. 14.17, 18, 19. See chap. 1.15. or for a Tribe and this may partly respect the fewness of those, that will be found penitents, and return, God will have a sprinkling in every City, and in every Family or Tribe, or Country, but chiefly it respects Gods exact care of them, that being now married to them, there shall not be one in a City, or two in a Country, or Tribe but he will find them out, if there be but one, or two he will not overlook them, this seems to be intimated, Isa. 27.12. a Text that points at the same thing.

i. e. To Ierusalem a Type of the Church, a double metonymy of the Subject. It is the manner of the Prophets, when they are treating of temporal deliverances, especially from Babylon, frequently to break out abruptly into the spiritual deliverance by Christ and so probably he doth here; and therefore bringing them to Zion must be understood, either of joyning them to his Church under the Messiah, or bringing them again to Worship with Iudah at Ierusalem: as may seem to be intimated chap. 31.6. but the 10 Tribes did never return into their own Land, and therefore that Text must be understood of a spiritual going up to Zion, viz. when all Israel shall be saved, Rom. 11.26. see Isa. 56.7, 8. and 66.20. and ver. 18. Thus we may look upon this part of the Prophesie to have respect, partly to what God was at that time about to do, in this verse, and partly what he would hereafter do, when they should be again setled in their own Land, under the Messiah, ver. 16, 17, 18, 19.