Why is Israel described as planting pleasant plants and setting foreign seedlings?

The description of Israel planting pleasant plants and setting foreign seedlings serves as a metaphor for their relationship with God and their departure from Him. This imagery illustrates how Israel has become entangled with practices and influences from surrounding nations, turning their back on their true source of blessing and salvation. By seeking foreign seedlings, they symbolize their willingness to adopt foreign ideas and practices instead of remaining faithful to God.

This turning away from their covenant loyalty is portrayed as a key reason for their spiritual decline. The text implies that Israel has forgotten the God who brought them out of Egypt and established them as His own people, leading to their reliance on human wisdom and foreign deities for stability and prosperity. The focus is on the spiritual implications of their actions rather than simply sociopolitical strategies or diversifying agriculture.