Bible Study Seattle

“In addition, Yirmeyahu said to all the people, but especially the women: “Hear the word of Adonai, all Y’hudah who are in the land of Egypt; this is what Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Isra’el, says: ‘You and your wives stated your intentions with your mouths and performed them with your hands — you said, “We will certainly fulfill our vows that we made to offer incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her.”’ Without doubt, you will indeed fulfill every point of your vows.”  Jeremiah 44:24-25 CJV

Most other versions use the phrase, “including all the women.”  But David Stern’s version emphasizes this point.  It seems likely that women are leading figures in many religions and set the cultural tone.  Here, the women seem to have had a major role in false religion just before Babylon carried off Judah around 600 BC.