Faithless Israel (2:1-4:4).

            In this seccion we have a number of short, passionate, poetic pleadings with Israel, forming a spiritual whole. Israel throughout means both the Northern Kingdom, and Judah. Here, as elsewhere when he pleads with the Northern tribes, it is not dear whether Jeremiah is addressing himself to those in exile or to those who had been left behind in their land now ruled for Assyria by the Samaritan settlers.

        This dual meaning of Israel has, however, been obscured by the insertion between 3:5 and ver. 19 of an independent prophecy (3:6-13) of slightly later date (see above) in which Israel is used exdusively of the Northern Kingdom in contrast to Judah. Its sense has been obscured by a wrong use of tense in the English versions. In 3:6 we should have the past instead of the perfect tense, i.e. “Hast thou seen what back­sliding Israel did? She went up … and there played the harlot.” Jeremiah is referring to the closing days of the Northern Kingdom.

        Ch. 3:14-18 is an even later prophecy, perhaps from the time of Zedekiah, which is here inserted because of its spiritual suitability. The very important reference to the ark (3:16) is dealt with below together with the passages in which Jeremiah gives his attitude toward ceremonial religion in general (see The Vanity of Outward Religion).

        For the correct understanding of this section it must be borne in mind that Jeremiah is referring to two apparently distinct things, which yet for the prophet are indistinguishable. Obviously the sin above all others that is being condemned is idolatry, but equally obviously much of it was not seen in that light by the people — note especially 2:23, where the charge of idolatry is definitely denied.

        It would seem clear that from the time of the Judges on, checked by the good kings but not stamped out, the bulk of the people worshipped Jehovah in much the same way as they had seen the Canaanites worshipping their gods, the Baalim. In other words, they looked on Jehovah simply as their Baal. For the prophets, this was equivalent to worshipping Baal himself; they denied that it was Jehovah-worship at all. Along with this Baalized Jehovah-worship there was, of course, much worship of other gods as well. The important point is that unless we worship God as He wishes to be worshipped, He does not accept our worship at all. It is equivalent to the worship of other gods (see ch. V, p. 36ff.).

        When Jeremiah convinces Israel of her sin, she merely says defiantly, “No hope; no! for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go” (2:25).