Jeremiah 7:18

“The children gather wood, etc.] In the fields, or out of the neighbouring forest; not little children, but young men, who were able to cut down trees, and bear and carry burdens of wood: and the fathers kindle the fire; take the wood of their children, lay it in order, and put fire to it; which shows that they approved of what their children did, and that what they did was by their direction and order: and the women knead their dough; so that every age and sex were employed in idolatrous service, which is here intended; the corruption was universal; and therefore the whole body was ripe for ruin; nor would the Lord be entreated for them: and all this preparation was, to make cakes for the…”

“children . . . fathers . . . women--Not merely isolated individuals practised idolatry; young and old, men and women, and whole families, contributed their joint efforts to promote it. Oh, that there were the same zeal for the worship of God as there is for error (Jer 44:17, Jer 44:19; Jer 19:13)! cakes . . . queen of heaven--Cakes were made of honey, fine flour, &c., in a round flat shape to resemble the disc of the moon, to which they were offered. Others read as Margin, "the frame of heaven," that is, the planets generally; so the Septuagint here; but elsewhere the Septuagint translates, "queen of heaven." The PhÅ“nicians called the moon Ashtoreth or Astarte: the wife of Baal or Moloch,…”

“Children ... fathers ... women - All members of the family take part in this idolatry. Cakes - Probably very similar to those offered at Athens to Artemis. To the queen of heaven - A Persian and Assyrian deity, who was supposed to symbolize a quality possessed by moonlight of giving to nature its receptive power, as the sun represented its quickening power. The moon thus became generally the symbol of female productiveness, and was worshipped as such at Babylon. Disgraceful usages to which every woman was obliged once to submit formed part of her worship. return to 'Top of Page'”

“The children - Here God shews how busily they are employed from the youngest to the oldest for their idolatry. The queen - As the sun was looked upon as king, so the moon as the queen of heaven. Jeremiah 7:20”

“children: Jer 44:17-19, Jer 44:25; Co1 10:22 queen of heaven: or, frame, or workmanship of heaven, Though several manuscripts and editions have melachath "workmanship," instead of melecheth "queen" yet the latter reading seems the true one, as the LXX in the parallel place, and the Vulgate uniformly have "the queen of heaven;" by which there can be little doubt, is meant the Moon. Deu 4:19; Job 31:26-28 to pour: Jer 19:13, Jer 32:29; Deu 32:37, Deu 32:38; Psa 16:4; Isa 57:6, Isa 65:11; Eze 20:28 that they: Jer 25:7; Isa 3:8, Isa 65:3 Jeremiah 7:19”