Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, and all the women standing by--a great assembly--along with all the people living in the land of Egypt and in Pathros, said to Jeremiah, Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other godsThis phrase highlights the spiritual apostasy among the Israelites who had fled to Egypt. The act of burning incense to other gods was a direct violation of the first commandment ( Exodus 20:3) and a common practice in pagan worship. The men’s awareness of their wives’ actions suggests a complicity or at least a passive acceptance of idolatry, reflecting a broader cultural and spiritual decline. This mirrors the situation in 1 Kings 11:4, where Solomon's heart was turned away by his foreign wives to other gods. and all the women standing by—a great assembly—
The mention of a "great assembly" of women indicates the widespread nature of the idolatrous practices. Women in ancient Near Eastern cultures often played significant roles in religious rituals, and their participation here underscores the depth of the community's departure from Yahweh. This assembly may also reflect the social structure where women, though often in domestic roles, could influence religious practices, as seen in the worship of the Queen of Heaven (Jeremiah 7:18). along with all the people living in the land of Egypt and in Pathros
The reference to Egypt and Pathros (southern Egypt) situates this event geographically. Historically, after the fall of Jerusalem, some Jews fled to Egypt for refuge (Jeremiah 43:7). Pathros, known from Egyptian records, was a region where Jewish communities settled. This setting fulfills earlier warnings from God about the consequences of seeking refuge in Egypt (Jeremiah 42:19-22), a land synonymous with bondage and idolatry (Exodus 20:2). said to Jeremiah
Jeremiah, the prophet, served as God's mouthpiece, often delivering messages of judgment and calls for repentance. His presence in Egypt with the exiled Jews signifies his continued mission to guide and admonish them, despite their persistent rebellion. This interaction is part of a larger narrative where Jeremiah's prophecies often met with resistance and disbelief (Jeremiah 44:16-17), reflecting the broader theme of prophetic rejection seen throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Isaiah 6:9-10). Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahThe prophet of God who is delivering a message to the people of Judah living in Egypt. 2. Men of JudahThese are the husbands who were aware of their wives' idolatrous practices. 3. Women of JudahThe wives who were actively participating in burning incense to other gods. 4. EgyptThe land where the remnant of Judah had fled, seeking refuge from Babylonian conquest. 5. PathrosA region in Upper Egypt where some of the Judeans had settled. Teaching Points The Danger of IdolatryIdolatry is a recurring sin that leads to separation from God. It is crucial to identify and remove any modern-day idols in our lives, whether they be material possessions, relationships, or personal ambitions. The Role of LeadershipThe men of Judah failed in their leadership by allowing and even participating in idolatry. As leaders in our families and communities, we must guide others in faithfulness to God. The Consequences of DisobedienceThe people of Judah faced dire consequences for their disobedience. We must understand that turning away from God's commandments leads to spiritual and sometimes physical repercussions. The Importance of RepentanceDespite their sin, the opportunity for repentance was available. We should always be ready to turn back to God, seeking His forgiveness and restoration. Community InfluenceThe collective decision of the community to engage in idolatry shows the power of group influence. We must be vigilant about the influences we allow in our lives and communities. Bible Study Questions 1. What modern-day idols might we be tempted to worship, and how can we guard against them? 2. How can we, as leaders in our families or communities, ensure that we are guiding others towards faithfulness to God? 3. Reflect on a time when you faced consequences for disobedience. How did that experience shape your relationship with God? 4. In what ways can we encourage repentance and restoration within our communities? 5. How can we discern and resist negative influences within our community that lead us away from God? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 20:3-5This passage connects to the first commandment, which prohibits the worship of other gods, highlighting the sin of idolatry that the people of Judah were committing. 2 Kings 17:7-18This passage provides historical context on how the Israelites repeatedly fell into idolatry, leading to their eventual exile. Deuteronomy 28:15-68These verses outline the curses for disobedience, which the people of Judah were experiencing due to their idolatry. 1 Kings 11:1-13This passage describes Solomon's downfall due to idolatry, serving as a warning of the consequences of turning away from God. People Jeremiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, ZedekiahPlaces Babylon, Egypt, Jerusalem, Memphis, Migdol, Pathros, TahpanhesTopics Along, Answering, Assemblage, Assembly, Aware, Burned, Burning, Dwelling, Dwelt, Egypt, Gods, Incense, Including, Jeremiah, Large, Lower, Making, Meeting, Multitude, Offered, Pathros, Perfume, Perfumes, Present, Remaining, Responded, Sacrifices, Saying, Standing, Stood, Upper, Wives, WomenDictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 44:14 5319 fugitives
7145 remnant Library God's Patient Pleadings
'I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.'--JER. xliv. 4. The long death-agony of the Jewish kingdom has come to an end. The frivolous levity, which fed itself on illusions and would not be sobered by facts, has been finally crushed out of the wretched people. The dreary succession of incompetent kings--now a puppet set up by Egypt, now another puppet set up by Babylon, has ended with the weak Zedekiah. The …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureMan's Misery by the Fall
Q-19: WHAT IS THE MISERY OF THAT ESTATE WHEREINTO MAN FELL? A: All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever. 'And were by nature children of wrath.' Eph 2:2. Adam left an unhappy portion to his posterity, Sin and Misery. Having considered the first of these, original sin, we shall now advert to the misery of that state. In the first, we have seen mankind offending; …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity That Whereas the City of Jerusalem had Been Five Times Taken Formerly, this was the Second Time of Its Desolation. A Brief Account of Its History.
1. And thus was Jerusalem taken, in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, on the eighth day of the month Gorpeius [Elul]. It had been taken five [34] times before, though this was the second time of its desolation; for Shishak, the king of Egypt, and after him Antiochus, and after him Pompey, and after them Sosius and Herod, took the city, but still preserved it; but before all these, the king of Babylon conquered it, and made it desolate, one thousand four hundred and sixty-eight years and …
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem Man's Inability to Keep the Moral Law
Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but does daily break them, in thought, word, and deed. In many things we offend all.' James 3: 2. Man in his primitive state of innocence, was endowed with ability to keep the whole moral law. He had rectitude of mind, sanctity of will, and perfection of power. He had the copy of God's law written on his heart; no sooner did God command but he obeyed. …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments The Mercy of God
The next attribute is God's goodness or mercy. Mercy is the result and effect of God's goodness. Psa 33:5. So then this is the next attribute, God's goodness or mercy. The most learned of the heathens thought they gave their god Jupiter two golden characters when they styled him good and great. Both these meet in God, goodness and greatness, majesty and mercy. God is essentially good in himself and relatively good to us. They are both put together in Psa 119:98. Thou art good, and doest good.' This …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Nature of Covenanting.
A covenant is a mutual voluntary compact between two parties on given terms or conditions. It may be made between superiors and inferiors, or between equals. The sentiment that a covenant can be made only between parties respectively independent of one another is inconsistent with the testimony of Scripture. Parties to covenants in a great variety of relative circumstances, are there introduced. There, covenant relations among men are represented as obtaining not merely between nation and nation, …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting Original Sin
Q-16: DID ALL MANKIND FALL IN ADAM'S FIRST TRANSGRESSION? A: The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him, by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression. 'By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin,' &c. Rom 5:12. Adam being a representative person, while he stood, we stood; when he fell, we fell, We sinned in Adam; so it is in the text, In whom all have sinned.' Adam was the head …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Jeremiah 44:15 NIVJeremiah 44:15 NLTJeremiah 44:15 ESVJeremiah 44:15 NASBJeremiah 44:15 KJV
Jeremiah 44:15 Commentaries
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