"Moreover," said the women, "when we burned incense to the Queen of Heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands' knowledge that we made sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?" “Moreover,” said the women,This phrase introduces the response of the women in the narrative. The context is a dialogue between Jeremiah and the Jewish exiles in Egypt. The women are speaking collectively, indicating a shared belief and practice among them. This reflects the communal nature of religious practices in ancient cultures, where family and community often participated together in worship. “when we burned incense to the Queen of Heaven and poured out drink offerings to her,”
The "Queen of Heaven" refers to a pagan deity, likely associated with Ishtar or Astarte, goddesses of fertility and war in Mesopotamian and Canaanite religions. Burning incense and pouring out drink offerings were common practices in ancient Near Eastern worship, signifying devotion and seeking favor from the deity. This practice was condemned by the prophets as idolatry, directly violating the first commandment (Exodus 20:3). The Israelites' adoption of these practices shows the syncretism that had infiltrated their worship, blending Yahweh worship with pagan rituals. “was it without our husbands’ knowledge”
This phrase suggests that the women were not acting independently but with the consent or at least the awareness of their husbands. In the patriarchal society of ancient Israel, religious practices were typically family or community decisions. This implies a collective turning away from God, involving both men and women, which underscores the depth of the apostasy. “that we made sacrificial cakes in her image”
Sacrificial cakes were offerings made in the shape or image of the deity being worshiped. This practice is reminiscent of the offerings made to other gods in the region, such as the cakes offered to the goddess Asherah. The making of these cakes was a tangible act of devotion and idolatry, directly opposing the worship of Yahweh, who forbade the making of graven images (Exodus 20:4). “and poured out drink offerings to her?”
Drink offerings were libations of wine or other liquids poured out as part of a sacrificial ritual. This act was meant to honor the deity and seek their blessing. In the context of Israelite religion, drink offerings were part of the sacrificial system ordained by God (Leviticus 23:13), but here they are misappropriated for idol worship. This highlights the perversion of true worship and the people's rebellion against God's commandments. The repeated mention of drink offerings emphasizes the seriousness of their idolatry and the complete departure from covenant faithfulness. Persons / Places / Events 1. The Women of JudahThese women were involved in idol worship, specifically offering sacrifices to the "queen of heaven," a pagan deity. 2. The Queen of HeavenA title used for a pagan goddess, likely associated with fertility and celestial bodies, worshiped by some Israelites in defiance of God's commandments. 3. Husbands of the WomenThe men who were complicit or at least aware of their wives' idolatrous practices, indicating a family-wide departure from worshiping Yahweh. 4. JeremiahThe prophet who conveyed God's message of judgment against Judah for their idolatry and disobedience. 5. EgyptThe place where the remnant of Judah had fled, seeking refuge but continuing their idolatrous practices, which Jeremiah condemned. Teaching Points Idolatry's Deceptive AppealIdolatry often promises immediate benefits or security, but it leads to spiritual decay and separation from God. Family Influence in Spiritual MattersThe complicity of husbands highlights the importance of spiritual leadership and accountability within the family unit. Cultural Pressures and FaithfulnessThe Israelites' adoption of local deities in Egypt underscores the challenge of maintaining faithfulness to God amidst cultural pressures. Consequences of DisobediencePersistent disobedience to God's commands results in judgment and loss of His protection and blessings. Repentance and RestorationDespite their rebellion, God's desire for His people is always repentance and restoration, as seen throughout the prophetic messages. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the worship of the "queen of heaven" reflect the broader issue of idolatry in our lives today? 2. In what ways can family dynamics influence our spiritual practices, both positively and negatively? 3. How can we guard against cultural influences that lead us away from God's commandments? 4. What are some modern-day "idols" that can distract us from our relationship with God, and how can we address them? 5. Reflect on a time when you experienced the consequences of disobedience to God. How did you find your way back to Him, and what role did repentance play in that process? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 20:3-5The commandment against idolatry, which the people of Judah violated by worshiping the queen of heaven. 1 Kings 11:5Solomon's idolatry, which included worshiping foreign gods, setting a precedent for later generations. 2 Kings 17:16-18The fall of Israel due to idolatry, serving as a warning to Judah. Romans 1:21-23The New Testament reflection on humanity's tendency to exchange the glory of God for images and idols. People Jeremiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, ZedekiahPlaces Babylon, Egypt, Jerusalem, Memphis, Migdol, Pathros, TahpanhesTopics Added, Approval, Bearing, Burned, Burning, Cakes, Draining, Drink, Drink-offerings, Heaven, Heavens, Husbands, Idolize, Image, Incense, Libations, Making, Offer, Offerings, Perfume, Perfumes, Portray, Pour, Poured, Pouring, Queen, Sacrifices, Sacrificial, Sky, Women, WorshipDictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 44:17-19 5487 queen
7350 drink offering 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 44:19 NIVJeremiah 44:19 NLTJeremiah 44:19 ESVJeremiah 44:19 NASBJeremiah 44:19 KJV
Jeremiah 44:19 Commentaries
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