Jeremiah 44:14-24

14 et non erit qui effugiat et sit residuus de reliquiis Iudaeorum qui vadunt ut peregrinentur in terra Aegypti et revertantur in terram Iuda ad quam ipsi elevant animas suas ut revertantur et habitent ibi non revertentur nisi qui fugerint

15 responderunt autem Hieremiae omnes viri scientes quod sacrificarent uxores eorum diis alienis et universae mulieres quarum stabat multitudo grandis et omnis populus habitantium in terra Aegypti in Fatures dicens

16 sermonem quem locutus es ad nos in nomine Domini non audiemus ex te

17 sed facientes faciemus omne verbum quod egreditur de ore nostro ut sacrificemus Reginae caeli et libemus ei libamina sicut fecimus nos et patres nostri reges nostri et principes nostri in urbibus Iuda et in plateis Hierusalem et saturati sumus panibus et bene nobis erat malumque non vidimus

18 ex eo autem quo cessavimus sacrificare Reginae caeli et libare ei libamina indigemus omnibus et gladio et fame consumpti sumus

19 quod si nos sacrificamus Reginae caeli et libamus ei libamina numquid sine viris nostris fecimus ei placentas ad colendum eam et liba libandi

20 et dixit Hieremias ad omnem populum adversum viros et adversum mulieres et adversum universam plebem qui responderant ei verbum dicens

21 numquid non sacrificium quod sacrificastis in civitatibus Iuda et in plateis Hierusalem vos et patres vestri reges vestri et principes vestri et populus terrae horum recordatus est Dominus et ascendit super cor eius

22 et non poterat Dominus ultra portare propter malitiam studiorum vestrorum et propter abominationes quas fecistis et facta est terra vestra in desolationem et in stuporem et in maledictum eo quod non sit habitator sicut est dies haec

23 propterea quod sacrificaveritis idolis et peccaveritis Domino et non audieritis vocem Domini et in lege et in praeceptis et in testimoniis eius non ambulaveritis idcirco evenerunt vobis mala haec sicut est dies haec

24 dixit autem Hieremias ad omnem populum et ad universas mulieres audite verbum Domini omnis Iuda qui estis in terra Aegypti

Jeremiah 44:14-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 44

This chapter contains a sermon of Jeremiah's to the Jews in Egypt, reproving them for their idolatry there; their answer to it, expressing their resolution to continue in their idolatrous practices; and a denunciation of judgments upon them, of which a sign is given. The sermon begins with observing to them the destruction of Jerusalem, and the causes of it, idolatry and contempt of the prophets, Jer 44:1-6; then follows an expostulation with the present Jews for doing the same things, and exposing themselves and their posterity to the same punishment, Jer 44:7-10; upon which they are threatened with the sore judgments of God that should come upon them, and cut them off in general, Jer 44:11-14; yet such were the impudence and obstinacy of this people, that they declared they would not hearken to the prophet, but persist in their idolatry; it having been better with them when they practised it than when they left it, Jer 44:15-19; to which the prophet replies by observing, that for the idolatry of their fathers their land was become a desolation and a curse, as at this day, Jer 44:20-23; and assures them that destruction would come from the Lord upon them, which he had swore to, Jer 44:24-28; and a sign of it is given; the delivery of the king of Egypt into the hand of the king of Babylon, Jer 44:29,30.