יחזקאל, פרק י״ב, פסוק כ״ז

Faced with warnings of impending disaster, the Israelites find a way to avoid changing their current behavior. They do not necessarily deny the truth of the prophetic messages delivered to them. Instead, they try to strip these warnings of their urgency by pushing the timeline of fulfillment far into the distant future.

The people argue that the events the prophet foresees will not happen anytime soon [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. They insist that the realization of these warnings is reserved for a much later era [רש״י]. To emphasize this delay, they repeat the idea, claiming that the timeline is stretched out and distant [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון].

A deeper look at the people's argument reveals a subtle distinction in how they view the prophecy [מלבי״ם]. They suggest that while the prophet experiences a vision of disaster all at once, the actual events will not unfold in that manner. In their view, the timeline will stretch out, causing the events to happen slowly and gradually, one after another. Furthermore, even if the prophet warns that the disaster is about to strike immediately, the people counter that the specific moment of impact is still very far away, perhaps even at the end of days.

The practical result of this argument is a complete dismissal of any immediate fear. By convincing themselves that the warnings are meant for a distant future, the people assume the prophecy will eventually lose its relevance [מצודת דוד]. This mindset allows them to comfortably ignore the call to correct their actions, enabling them to continue living their daily lives in peace, quiet, and complete denial of any looming threat [ביאור שטיינזלץ].