ירמיהו, פרק מ״ד, פסוק י״ח

The Jewish exiles in Egypt present a defiant theological argument based on their interpretation of history. They insist that their own practical experience proves the exact opposite of the prophet's warnings [מלבי״ם]. In their view, from the very moment they stopped burning incense and pouring libations to the idol known as the Queen of Heaven, they lost all their past prosperity and were left with nothing [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. They argue that this change in their practices directly led to their utter destruction, causing them to perish by sword and famine [מצודת ציון].

There are differing views regarding whether the people actually stopped their idol worship as they boldly claimed. One perspective suggests that they never completely abandoned their idolatry. Instead, their complaint was that disaster struck simply because they had reduced the amount of incense they burned and were no longer as devoted and eager in their idol worship as they had once been [רד״ק].

Another approach explains that the people were specifically referring to the generation of King Jehoiakim. They argued that the people of that era were righteous and had successfully stopped worshiping idols, yet tragedy fell upon them anyway. Jeremiah would later respond to this specific defense by pointing out a harsh reality of national responsibility. Even if the majority of Jehoiakim's generation was indeed righteous, the king himself sinned and corrupted his ways. Consequently, the entire nation suffered and was punished for the severe sins of their leader [חומת אנך].