But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth out of our
own
mouth
And not what went out of the mouth of God, or his prophet: but
whoever they had resolved on within themselves to do, and had
declared with their mouths they would, or had vowed with their
lips; so Abarbinel interprets it of a vow; this they were
determined to perform, let God and his prophet say what they
would: to burn incense unto the queen of
heaven;
which, according to Abarbinel, was the moon, which is the queen
of heaven, as the sun is king; it was called by the Heathens
Coelestis and Urania: but there are some that think that some
great star in heaven, that is king over the rest, is meant; so
the Targum renders it, the star of heaven; which they understand
of the sun, as Kimchi observes; the sun being much worshipped in
Egypt; but Kimchi himself derives the word for "queen", here
used, not from the root which signifies "to reign"; but from
another, which signifies "to work"; and so renders it, "the
work", or "frame of heaven"; the sun, moon, and stars; and so the
Syriac version is "the host of heaven"; (See Gill on Jeremiah
7:18); and to this deity, be it what it will, they burned
incense; and they were determined to continue it, and all other
idolatrous rites and practices particularly: and to pour
out drink offerings unto her;
which was another part of ceremonial worship, which the true God
required of the people of Israel; but were here resolved to give
it to another god: as we have done, we, and our fathers,
our kings, and our princes, in
the cities of Judah, and in the streets of
Jerusalem;
they plead custom and prescription, antiquity and authority; the
examples of ancestors and kings; the general practice of their
nation, both in the metropolis of it, and in its several cities,
where it not only universally obtained, but was visibly and
openly done; and, more, they plead the temporal advantage of it:
for [then] had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and
saw no evil:
had fulness of bread, and of all provisions; health, peace, and
safety; and no judgment was upon them, seen or felt by them; the
sword, famine, or pestilence. The goddess Coelestis, or the moon,
which seems to be here meant, was, as Tertullian F4 says
"pluviarum pollicitatrix", "the promiser of rains" and so of all
good things: or, "were merry" F5, as the Heathens were at
their new moons, when they indulged to their cups, and lived
jovially; hence that of Horace F6.