The third dispute is kind of a tricky one. Judah has broken the covenant with God by breaking his covenant with his first wife (an Israelite) and marrying a foreigner. This passage shows the seriousness that God has towards the marriage covenant and vows. But what made the divorce even worse was reason for the divorce – to marry a foreigner, one who is not one of God’s chosen people, one who worships other gods. I get the feeling in this passage that God hates divorce!
Yet a deeper reading of this passage points out an even greater problem has with the people of Judah. They left their first love (God) by breaking the covenant with Him, and are uniting themselves with another (the false gods of the foreign people.) God was jealous for them, as He is jealous for us and for our love. He desires us to give Him the love He deserves, and not give it to the false gods of wealth, happiness, security, or self.