John Trapp on Jeremiah 31:2-3

Ver. 2. The people that were left of the ſword] Of Pharaoh's ſword, who purſued them:Fieri dicitur quod tentatur aut intenditur. and though he ſmote them not, becauſe the Lord kept him off, yet he is ſaid to have done it: like as Balac afterwards aroſe and fought againſt Iſrael, Joſh. 24.9. he had a mind ſo to have done, but that he was over-awed: he did not indeed becauſe he durſt not.

When I went to bring him to reſt] i. e. To the land of Canaan, after ſo long trouble and travel. I effected that then, though it were held improbable, or impoſſible: ſo I will do this promiſed reduction of my people from Babylon.

Indaeorum quiritantium verba. Zeg. Ver. 3. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me] This ſeemeth to be the peoples objection: You tell us what was done of old: but theſe are ancient things, and little pertaining to us, who are now under a heavy captivity; jam refrixit & obſoleta videtur Dei beneficentia. Hereunto is anſwered

Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love] I am one and the ſame: I am Jehovah that change not, whatever thou mayſt think of me, becauſe I ſeem angry at thy miſdoings.

Therefore with loving kindneſſe have I drawn thee] Or, Therefore will I draw out loving kindneſſe toward thee, as Pſal. 36.10. See the Note there.