Who was primarily responsible for the idol worship in Jeremiah 44:19?
The women of Judah were primarily responsible for the idol worship in Jeremiah 44:19, particularly burning incense, making cakes, and pouring drink offerings to the Queen of heaven. The text states they did this 'without our men,' meaning the women were the primary culprits in this pagan worship.
Les explains that in Jeremiah 44, the people are defending their idolatry. In verse 18 the Jews or Israelites say that since they stopped burning incense to the Queen of heaven and pouring drink offerings, they have wanted all things and been consumed by sword and famine. They did not recognize God dealing with them; they thought quitting the Queen of heaven caused their problems. Then verse 19 quotes them: when they burned incense to the Queen of heaven and poured drink offerings, they made cakes to worship her, without their men. Les emphasizes, "In other words, the women were the primary culprits here." Verse 20 then has Jeremiah speaking to all the people, men and women, and 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—was remembered by the Lord. This shows how far pagan worship had penetrated the Jewish or Israeli community.
And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?