Jeremiah 17:2

“Whilst their children remember their altars, etc.] Which is a further proof of their long continuance in idolatrous practices, and a fresh witness against them; they trained up their children in them; who, when grown up, could not forget them, but imitated them, and went on in the same evil ways. Some render the words, “as they remember their children, so they remember their altarsf347, and their groves, by the green trees upon the high hills”; they had the same love to their idols, and the worship of them, as they had to their children. This sense is received by Kimchif348; yea, they had a greater affection for their idols than for their children; since they made their children pass through…”

“children remember--Instead of forsaking the idolatries of their fathers, they keep them up (Jer 7:18). This is given as proof that their sin is "graven upon . . . altars" (Jer 17:1), that is, is not merely temporary. They corrupt their posterity after them. CASTALIO less probably translates, "They remember their altars as (fondly as) they do their children." groves--rather, "images of Astarte," the goddess of the heavenly hosts, represented as a sacred tree, such as is seen in the Assyrian sculptures (Kg2 21:7; Ch2 24:18). "Image of the grove." The Hebrew for "grove" is Asherah, that is, Assarak, Astarte, or Ashtaroth. by the green trees--that is, near them: the sacred trees (idol symbols)…”

“While their children remember their altars - Perhaps an allusion to their sacrifices of children to Moloch. Present perhaps at some such blood-stained rite, its horrors would be engraven forever upon the memory. Groves - “Asherahs,” i. e., wooden images of Astarte (see Exodus 34:13 note). return to 'Top of Page'”

“Their children - This shewed how inveterate they were in this sin of idolatry, that they taught it their children. Jeremiah 17:3”

“17:2 Asherah poles were cut from trees and erected near altars dedicated to Baal, the Canaanite storm god. Asherah was the Canaanite goddess who symbolized the fertility of moist ground that could produce crops. Ritual sex was performed near these altars to cause rain to fall, seeds to sprout, and plants to grow. A tree growing near an altar could also represent this fertility goddess. The people of Judah were so depraved that parents encouraged their children to join them in these rituals.”

“their children: Jer 7:18; Hos 4:13, Hos 4:14 their altars: Jer 2:20; Jdg 3:7; Ch2 24:18, Ch2 33:3, Ch2 33:19; Psa 78:58; Isa 1:29, Isa 17:8; Eze 20:28 Jeremiah 17:3”