In this context be ashamed of is best understood as “be disillusioned with” (Good News Translation), “be disappointed by” (Bible en français courant), or “be let down by” (Revised English Bible).

Chemosh is the Moabite god (see verse 7).

The house of Israel; that is, “the Israelites.” See 2.26.

Bethel: A god of this name is known to have been worshiped in Syria and Babylonia; it is also one of the names used of God among the Jews who later settled in Elephantine, Egypt. Since the name refers to a god, and not to the better known place, Good News Translation renders Bethel, their confidence as “Bethel, a god in whom they trusted.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .