דברי הימים ב, פרק כ״ד, פסוק י״ט

The spiritual decline of the people of Judah was rooted in a return to the idol worship that dominated the ancient world. In that era, avoiding idolatry made a nation a social outlier. As their loyalty to God began to weaken, the people naturally drifted toward the widely accepted practices of the surrounding cultures [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

In response to this reality, prophets were sent to deliver a strict warning [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד]. They cautioned the people about the harsh punishments and disasters that would inevitably fall upon them if they refused to return to God [רלב״ג]. This prophetic warning functioned much like a formal testimony. It mirrored the legal practice of cautioning someone in the presence of witnesses, ensuring that the people could never deny receiving the warning or claim they were unaware of the consequences of their actions [מצודת דוד].

Despite these clear and explicit messages, the people remained stubborn. They completely refused to incline their ears and listen to the words of the prophets [מצודת דוד].