As the Lord speaks to Jeremiah, he speaks like a husband who had hoped that his wayward wife, Israel, would return to him. Clearly, what prevented this from happening was not just her behaviour, but her refusal to repent of her behaviour.1 You might expect Israel to return
(sub
) to the Lord after discovering how empty and fruitless her idolatry was, but Israel’s devotion to the worship of these powerless gods was too deeply ingrained.2
7 And I thought, ‘After she has done all this she will return to me,’ but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it.