Joe: Alright so Jeremiah 3, what's happening?

Expert: Well, Jeremiah 3 is all about God calling Israel to repentance. God says to them, "If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man's wife, will he return to her again? Would not such a land be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers."

Joe: Whoa whoa, wait. So people in ancient Israel were allowed to just divorce their wives like that?

Expert: Yes, they were allowed to divorce their wives, but God is making a point that they shouldn't do it because it would greatly pollute the land.

Joe: Wow, that sounds pretty harsh. What else?

Expert: Well, God also talks about how Israel has turned away from him and has gone after other gods. He says that Israel has "committed adultery" and "violated the covenant," and that God is "rebuking" them for it.

Joe: That's pretty messed up.

Expert: Yes, it is. God is trying to get Israel to see that their actions are wrong and that they need to repent and return to him.

Joe: Alright, so what happens in the end?

Expert: In the end, God says that if Israel will return to Him, He will forgive them and take them back as His people. He promises that He will have mercy on them and will remember the covenant He made with them.