There can be but little doubt but by the phrase we meet with Jeremiah 7:18 queen of heaven, was meant the moon; and such was the apostacy of Israel in the days of Jeremiah, that as the prophet tells them, the "children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough to make cakes to the queen of heaven."
There had been always in Israel from their intercourse with other nations, a proneness to idolatry; and hence Moses cautioned them against being infected therewith. I beg the reader to turn to the fourth chapter of Deuteronomy, and observe, from beginning to end, with what tenderness and affection the man of God admonished Israel on this point.
Concerning the disposition to pay adoration to the heavenly bodies, we find this, more or less, pervading the human mind untaught of God among all nations. And as the greater light, the sun which JEHOVAH made to rule the day, was called Baal Shemim, lord of heaven, so the lesser light, the moon, which governed the night, was naturally called Malkah Shemem, queen of heaven; and from the influence of both they naturally became idle. While we behold such things, what cause of thankfulness ought it to call forth towards God, who by the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, hath opened to us the knowledge of himself, that "we might turn from idols to serve the living and true God!" Beautifully hath Moses pointed out to us, in his dying benediction to Israel, the blessedness of the Israel of God beyond the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and the precious things put forth by the moon, "in the good will of him that dwelt in the bush." (Deuteronomy 33:14; Deuteronomy 33:16)