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Two Views of the Exilic Crisis   Read Jeremiah 39-43. What happened to bring Jeremiah and the remnant to seek refuge in Egypt?   Jeremiah and the Egyptian refugees accepts the same basic facts, yet they interpreted the causes of the circumstances differently. They agree that during Josiah’s reformation centralized monotheism was forced upon the people—read Second Kings 22-23. They agree that trouble fell upon the people of Judah and Jerusalem. Then they disagree. Read Jeremiah 44, also see 7:16-20. Who is the queen of heaven? How do the refugees interpret their problems? Why does Jeremiah think they have fallen into trouble? What factors make Jeremiah’s view more complicated than that of the refugees?   What are the implications for Christian readers of these opposing interpretations of causality for historical explanation? Copyright © 2010 ScriptureWorkshop.com