יחזקאל, פרק ט״ז, פסוק מ״ח

A severe divine oath places Jerusalem in a position far worse than Sodom, a city that stands as history's ultimate symbol of wickedness. God declares that the corruption and sins of the people have surpassed even those of that infamous place. The comparison extends beyond Sodom itself to include her neighboring towns, such as Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Spoken as a solemn vow, God affirms that Sodom never committed the sheer volume of abominations and sins that Jerusalem and her surrounding towns have carried out [מצודת דוד].

The fundamental differences between the two cities reveal exactly why Jerusalem carries a much heavier burden of guilt. From a spiritual standpoint, the people of Sodom never accepted a divine religion or core principles of faith. Consequently, they were not held accountable for idolatry or offenses committed directly against God [מלבי״ם]. Moreover, while the inhabitants of Sodom remained loyal to their own deities, the people of Jerusalem actively traded the glory of God for useless idols [רד״ק].

Beyond the sin of idolatry, commentators agree that Jerusalem's daily actions were far more corrupt than Sodom's. The wickedness of Sodom was rooted in an arrogance that grew from economic abundance, complete satisfaction, and absolute peace free from war. Their vast wealth led to extreme selfishness. They refused to give charity to the poor and needy, and they deliberately drove travelers away from their land to prevent anyone else from enjoying their prosperity [אברבנאל]. Yet, despite Sodom's extreme social cruelty, Jerusalem still managed to sink to an even deeper moral and practical low [רד״ק, אברבנאל].