יחזקאל, פרק כ״ג, פסוק י״ט

The Kingdom of Judah fell back into destructive habits by reviving improper ties with Egypt, repeating the behavioral patterns of their past. Historically, this shift took place during the reign of King Zedekiah. A renewed desire for Egyptian influence took hold of the people, prompting Zedekiah to send messengers to seek their assistance [רש״י, מלבי״ם]. This appeal to Egypt went far beyond a mere political alliance. It was accompanied by an active return to Egyptian practices, resurfacing the ancient moral deviations the nation had previously absorbed from that culture [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The memory of the nation's youth plays a central role in these events, though there are different perspectives on who was actually doing the remembering. The primary approach among commentators suggests that the people themselves were reflecting on their past. They actively recalled and recreated the corrupt deeds they had engaged in during their early days in Egypt. In contrast, another perspective explains that the sheer volume and intensity of the nation's current sins triggered a response from God. According to this view, their overwhelming corruption caused Him to remember the early evils and sins the Israelites had committed back in their youth in Egypt [רד״ק].