Jeremiah 2:23

How canst thou say? This question is evidently more than the prophet’s anticipation of a possible attempt by these sinners at self-vindication. It appears that the inhabitants of Judea repeatedly voiced this objection (see v. 35). Since Josiah had revived the appointed public worship of Yahweh, the people evidently persuaded themselves that they worshiped the true God, in spite of the fact that idolatrous heathen rites still continued (see ch. 9:13, 14).

Baalim. A transliteration of the Hebrew plural for Baal. The word is equivalent to the “other gods” of ch. 1:16.

In the valley. The prophet substantiated his charges by an appeal to the facts.

Jeremiah probably referred to the abominations carried on in the valley of the son of Hinnom, south and west of Jerusalem (chs. 7:31, 32; 19:2, 6, 13, 14; 32:35). On the southern brow of the hill overlooking this valley, Solomon had erected a high place for Molech, the god of Ammon (see on 1 Kings 11:7). From time to time later idolatrous kings revived the horrid rites in the same vicinity. Ahaz and Manasseh made their children “pass through the fire” (2 Kings 16:3; 21:6; 2 Chron. 28:3; 33:6). To put an end to the abominations of this valley, the good king Josiah polluted the site with bones and refuse (see on 2 Kings 23:10).