Why did the Jews blame their problems on quitting the Queen of heaven worship instead of God's judgment?
The Jews blamed their troubles on quitting the Queen of heaven because they did not recognize that God was dealing with them. They claimed that since they stopped burning incense and pouring drink offerings to her, they lacked all things and were consumed by sword and famine. Their pagan mindset misread divine judgment as punishment from an abandoned goddess.
Les explains that Jeremiah 44:18 records the Jews speaking back, saying that since they left off burning incense to the Queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, they had wanted all things and were consumed by sword and famine. They were not recognizing that God was trying to deal with them. Instead, they said the reason for all their problems was that they had quit worshipping the Queen of heaven. Verse 19 notes she was one of the primary goddesses of mythology, and the women were the primary culprits, making cakes and pouring out drink offerings without their men. Then Jeremiah answered all the people, men and women, reminding them that the incense burned in the cities of Judah and streets of Jerusalem by them, their fathers, kings, princes, and the people of the land—did not the Lord remember it? This shows how far pagan worship had penetrated the Jewish or Israeli community.
But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.