Jer 19:13, 44:17, 19 | JFB | STEP | 13. shall be defiled —with dead bodies ( ). because of all the houses —Rather, (explanatory of the previous "the houses . . . and . . . houses"), " even all the houses," &c. [CALVIN ]. roofs —being flat, they were used as high places for sacrifices to the sun and planets ( ). The Nabateans, south and east of the Dead Sea, a nation most friendly to the Jews, according to STRABO , had the same usage.

Jeremiah 19:13

13. shall be defiled—with dead bodies (Jer 19:12; 2Ki 23:10).

because of all the houses—Rather, (explanatory of the previous "the houses . . . and . . . houses"), "even all the houses," &c. [CALVIN].

roofs—being flat, they were used as high places for sacrifices to the sun and planets (Jer 32:29; 2Ki 23:11, 12; Zep 1:5). The Nabateans, south and east of the Dead Sea, a nation most friendly to the Jews, according to STRABO, had the same usage.

Jeremiah 44:17

17. whatsoever . . . goeth . . . out of our . . . mouth—whatever vow we have uttered to our gods (Jer 44:25; De 23:23; Jud 11:36). The source of all superstitions is that men oppose their own will and fancies to God's commands.

queen of heaven—(See on Jer 7:18); Ashtaroth or Astarte.

we . . . fathers . . . king, &c.—The evil was restricted to no one class: all from the highest to the lowest shared the guilt.

then had we plenty—Fools attribute their seeming prosperity to God's connivance at their sin: but see Pr 1:32; Ec 8:11-13. In fact, God had often chastised them for their idolatry (see Jud 2:14); but it is the curse of impiety not to perceive the hand of God in calamities.

victuals—Men cast away the bread of the soul for the bread that perisheth (De 8:3; Joh 6:27). So Esau (Heb 12:16).

Jeremiah 44:19

19. make . . . cakes to worship her—MAURER translates, "to form her image." Crescent-shaped cakes were offered to the moon. Vulgate supports English Version.

without our men—The women mentioned (Jer 44:15); "a great multitude" here speak: we have not engaged in secret night orgies which might justly be regarded unfavorably by our husbands: our sacred rites have been open, and with their privity. They wish to show how unreasonable it is that Jeremiah should oppose himself alone to the act of all, not merely women, but men also. The guilty, like these women, desire to shield themselves under the complicity of others. Instead of helping one another towards heaven, husband and wife often ripen one another for hell.