The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.
The children collect wood, the fathers start the fire, and the women mix their dough to bake cakes for the queen of heaven. They also pour out drink offerings to other gods, doing all this to make me angry.
God is describing how entire families work together to worship false gods, which deeply grieves and angers Him.
📚 Historical Context
In the 7th century BC, during the reign of King Josiah and later Jehoiakim in Judah, the prophet Jeremiah warned the people about their widespread idolatry and unfaithfulness to God. Families were actively participating in pagan rituals, such as making offerings to the queen of heaven, a reference to a foreign deity like Ishtar, despite God's commands to worship Him alone. This idolatry was a key factor in the impending judgment and exile to Babylon, as it represented a deep cultural and spiritual betrayal of Israel's covenant with God.
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