² Judah has no one to blame but herself. She cannot rightfully claim that her destruction comes about because Jehovah has dealt treacherously with her or has neglected his covenant with the nation. The Creator is no covenant breaker. (Jeremiah 31:32; Daniel 9:27; Revelation 15:4) Underscoring this fact, Jehovah asks the Jews: “Where, then, is the divorce certificate of the mother of you people, whom I sent away?” (Isaiah 50:1a) Under the Mosaic Law, a man who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. She is then free to become another man’s. (Deuteronomy 24:1, 2) In a figurative sense, Jehovah has issued such a certificate to Judah’s sister kingdom, Israel, but he has not done so to Judah.a He is still her “husbandly owner.” (Jeremiah 3:8, 14) Judah is certainly not free to consort with pagan nations. Jehovah’s relationship with her will continue “until Shiloh [the Messiah] comes.”​—Genesis 49:10.

3. For what reason does Jehovah ‘sell’ his people?

³ Jehovah also asks Judah: “Which one of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you people?” (Isaiah 50:1b) The Jews will not be sent into Babylonian captivity to cover some supposed debt that Jehovah has incurred. Jehovah is not like a poor Israelite who must sell his children to a creditor in order to settle accounts. (Exodus 21:7) Rather, Jehovah points to the real reason that his people will be enslaved: “Look! Because of your own errors you have been sold, and because of your own transgressions your mother has been sent away.” (Isaiah 50:1c) It is the Jews who have forsaken Jehovah; he has not forsaken them.