Johanan Asks What God’s Will Is, 42:1-16
Jeremiah Announces God’s Will, 42:7-22
A. Remain in Judah and live, 42:7-12
B. Retire to Egypt and die, 42:13-22
Jews Adventure to Egypt, 43
A. The People’s Sin, in spite of the prophet’s warning, the Jews travel to Egypt, forcing Jeremiah to go with them, 43:1-7.
B. The Prophet’s Sign: bury large rocks at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace, as a sign that Nebuchadnezzar will occupy Egypt and place his throne on the place of the rocks, 43:8-13.
Jeremiah’s Admonitions, 44:1-30
A. First Sermon, 44:1-19
1. Jeremiah’s Rebuke, 44:1-14
a. God will punish Judah for their sin, 44:1-6.
b. God will judge Judah for worshipping Egyptian gods, 44:7-14.
2. Jews’ Rejection, 44:15-19
a. “We will not listen to your messages from the Lord,” 44:15-16.
b. “We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and sacrifice to her as much as we like,” 44:17-19.
1) Queen of Heaven had different names in different languages
a) Assyrians and Babylonians–>Ishtar, goddess of war and love.
b) Hebrews–>Ashtoreth
c) Greeks–> Artemis
d) Romans–> Diana
2) Queen of Heaven was a maternal deity connected with the moon, family and fertility.
B. Second Sermon, 44:20-30
1. Remain in Egypt and die, 44:20-27.
2. Return to Judah and live, 44:28-30.