Sylvia,
I think that some of the writers were indeed, "doing their best" to understand God and that is why, even within the OT, there seems to be a contridiction in regards to God's behaviour and what he wants.
In all the bible, new and old, jealousy is always viewed as negative, the inspired writers wrote it as such, is has no place in God, to quote Paul:
Love is patient and kind, love is NOT jealous, boastful or proud.