Jeremiah 3:12

“Go and proclaim these words towards the north, etc.] With his face thitherwards, towards Babylon, which lay north of Judea, and was the metropolis of Assyria, where the ten tribes were carried captive; and though they were dispersed in the cities of Media and Persia, which lay eastward, yet Babylon being the head of the empire, respect is had to that; not that the prophet was to go thither to them, or to prophesy in the land of the north, as the Targum paraphrases the words: for the word “go”, as Jarchi observes, is only expressive of a command on the part of God; and of readiness, as Kimchi says, on the part of the prophet to obey, but not of local motion; he was to read these words, as the…”

“Go--not actually; but turn and proclaim towards the north (Media and Assyria, where the ten tribes were located by Tiglath-pileser and Shalmaneser, Kg2 15:29; Kg2 17:6; Kg2 18:9, Kg2 18:11). Return . . . backsliding--Hebrew, Shubah, Meshubah, a play on sounds. In order to excite Judah to godly jealousy (Rom 11:14), Jehovah addresses the exiled ten tribes of Israel with a loving invitation. cause . . . anger to fall--literally, "I will not let fall My countenance" (compare Gen 4:5-6; Job 29:3), that is, I will not continue to frown on you. keep--"anger" is to be supplied (see on Jer 3:5).”

“The north - The ten tribes, settled by Salmanezer in the north of Assyria. I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you - literally, I will not cause my face “to fall upon you:” i. e., “I will not receive you with averted looks.” The “and” before this clause should be omitted, as also before the next clause, “I will not keep ...” I will not keep - All God’s promises and threats are conditional upon man’s conduct. return to 'Top of Page'”

“The north - To Assyria and Media, that lay northward from Judea, whither the ten tribes were carried by Tiglath - pileser, and Salmanezer. Jeremiah 3:13”

“3:12 In this decree, the Lord calls the survivors of the faithless Israel of a century before to come home. God’s solid, underlying character is merciful, and he desires to extend salvation and restoration (12:15; 31:20; 33:26; 2 Kgs 17:6; Ps 86:15).”

“toward the north: Jer 3:18, Jer 23:8, Jer 31:8; Kg2 15:29, Kg2 17:6, Kg2 17:23, Kg2 18:1 Return: Jer 3:1, Jer 3:7, Jer 3:22, Jer 4:1; Isa 44:22; Eze 33:11; Hos 6:1, Hos 14:1-3 and I will not: Jer 30:11, Jer 33:26; Eze 39:25; Hos 11:8, Hos 11:9 for I am: Jer 31:20; Deu 4:29-31; Ch2 30:9; Psa 86:5, Psa 86:15, Psa 103:8, Psa 103:17, Psa 145:8; Mic 7:18-20; Rom 5:20, Rom 5:21 I will: Jer 3:5; Psa 79:5 Jeremiah 3:13”