And besides,” the women added, “when we offer incense to the Queen of Heaven, pour out drink offerings to her, and make cakes bearing her image, do you really think we do this without our husbands’ knowledge?”
Then I replied to all the men and women who had made their statement, “You and your ancestors, your kings and your leaders, and the people of the land offered sacrifices in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. But YAHWEH knew about this and did not forget. He could not endure your wicked and disgusting practices any longer. He placed a curse on your land and turned it into a desert without inhabitants as it is today. This disaster has plainly overtaken you because you sinned and offered incense to other gods, refusing to listen to the voice of YAHWEH or follow his law, his teachings, and his commandments.”
Then I said to the men and their wives, “Listen to the word of YAHWEH, all you people of Judah living in Egypt. YAHWEH, God of Israel, Commander of Angel Armies, says to you, ‘Both you and your wives have said that you will fulfill the vows you made to give offerings to the Queen of Heaven and pour out drink offerings to her. You have said it, and you have done it. Very well, by all means, keep your promise and fulfill the vows you made!’ But listen to the word of YAHWEH, all you people of Judah living in Egypt: ‘I swear by my mighty name, never again will I let any of you profane my name to make a vow by saying, “I swear by the living Lord YAHWEH!” Behold, instead of watching over you for good, I will watch for chances to harm you. Some of you will die in war, and others will die by famine until you are wiped out. Only a very few will escape the sword and will return to the land of Judah from Egypt. Then all the remnant of Judah who came to settle in Egypt will know whose word comes true, mine or theirs.
“ ‘And here is the sign for you,’ YAHWEH declares, ‘that I will keep my threats and I will punish you here: Behold, I will hand over Egypt’s Pharaoh Hophra to his enemies who seek his life just as I handed over Zedekiah king of Judah to his enemy Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who was determined to kill him.’ ”
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