Jer 19:13, 32:29, Zep 1:5 | JFB | STEP | 13. shall be defiled-- with dead bodies ( ; ). because of all the houses-- Rather, (explanatory of the previous "the houses ... and ... houses"), "even all the houses," &c. [Calvin]. roofs-- being flat, they were used as high places for sacrifices to the sun and planets ( ; , ; ). The Nabateans, south and east of the Dead Sea, a nation most friendly to the Jews, according to Strabo, had the same usage.

‏ Jeremiah 19:13

13. shall be defiled--with dead bodies (Jr 19:12; 2Ki 23:10).

because of all the houses--Rather, (explanatory of the previous "the houses ... and ... houses"), "even all the houses," &c. [Calvin].

roofs--being flat, they were used as high places for sacrifices to the sun and planets (Jr 32:29; 2Ki 23:11, 12; Zep 1:5). The Nabateans, south and east of the Dead Sea, a nation most friendly to the Jews, according to Strabo, had the same usage.

‏ Jeremiah 32:29

29. burn ... houses upon whose roofs ... incense unto Baal--retribution in kind. They burnt incense to Baal, on the houses, so the houses shall be burnt (Jr 19:13). The god of fire was the object of their worship; so fire shall be the instrument of their punishment.

to provoke me--indicating the design, not merely the event. They seemed to court God's "anger," and purposely to "provoke" Him.

‏ Zephaniah 1:5

5. worship the host of heaven--Saba: whence, in contrast to Sabeanism, Jehovah is called Lord of Sabaoth.

upon the housetops--which were flat (2Ki 23:5, 6, 12; Jr 19:13; 32:29).

swear by the Lord--rather, "swear to Jehovah" (2Ch 15:14); solemnly dedicating themselves to Him (compare Is 48:1; Ho 4:15).

and--"and yet (with strange inconsistency, 1Ki 18:21; Eze 20:39; Mt 6:24) swear by Malcham," that is, "their king" [Maurer]: the same as Molech (see on Am 5:25), and "Milcom the god of ... Ammon" (1Ki 11:33). If Satan have half the heart, he will have all; if the Lord have but half offered to Him, He will have none.