יחזקאל, פרק י״א, פסוק ב׳

God reveals the true root of corruption in Jerusalem. While previous visions showed the general public filling the land with violence, the focus now shifts directly to the leadership. The city's princes and most respected figures are exposed as the very foundation of this wickedness [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Because these leaders hold ultimate authority, every decision made in the city rests in their hands, and they actively steer the entire community toward ruin [רד״ק].

The progression of their wrongdoing unfolds in two distinct stages. It begins as an internal thought, a quiet planning of crime within the heart. This initial phase is purely conceptual, where the seeds of harm are first devised. From there, the corruption moves from hidden thought into practical action. The leaders gather to share harmful advice, reaching a concrete agreement on exactly how to execute their plots. The quiet planning represents the hidden, inner corruption, while the active counseling brings that harm into the real world, turning a bad idea into a destructive reality [מלבי״ם].