8. I saw that, though (whereas) it was for this very reason (namely),
because backsliding (apostate) Israel had committed adultery I had put
her away
(2Ki 17:6, 18),
and given her a bill of divorce, yet Judah, &c.
(Eze 23:11,
&c.).
bill of divorce--literally, "a writing of cuttings off." The
plural implies the completeness of the severance. The use of this
metaphor here, as in the former discourse
(Jer 3:1),
implies a close connection between the discourses. The epithets are
characteristic; Israel "apostate" (as the Hebrew for
"backsliding" is better rendered); Judah, not as yet utterly
apostate, but treacherous or faithless.
also--herself also, like Israel.
JFB.
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