Why does Jeremiah say to all the people, and especially the women, that they must fulfill the vows they have made?
Through his prophet, the Lord instructs the people to fulfill the vows they have made to make offerings to the queen of heaven. There is deep and profound irony in the fact that the Lord’s covenant people have made vows to a pagan god while breaking every covenant vow they have made to the Lord. The Lord’s instruction to fulfill their vows is an ironic dismissal as the community is left to the deadly consequences of the course of action it has committed itself to.
1 Part of the Lord’s judgment on the remnant in Egypt is to hand them over to their own foolish idolatry.
25 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: You and your wives have declared with your mouths, and have fulfilled it with your hands, saying, ‘We will surely perform our vows that we have made, to make offerings to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ Then confirm your vows and perform your vows!