דברי הימים ב, פרק ל״ו, פסוק ט״ז

The spiritual and moral decay of the people of Judah and Jerusalem ultimately reached an unprecedented low, pushing them past the point of no return. Rather than heeding the prophets sent by God, the people treated these divine messengers with relentless insults, mockery, and contempt [רש״י, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Typically, individuals show basic respect and fear toward human messengers out of reverence for the authority of the one who sent them. Yet, in a shocking display of arrogance, the people completely disregarded this natural boundary, daring to despise and mock the words of God Himself [רש״י].

Their hostility went beyond mere rejection, as they actively abused and ridiculed the prophets [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Taking their defiance even further, the people audaciously claimed that the prophets themselves were the ones who had strayed from the proper path [מצודת דוד]. This severe behavior continued unabated until God's anger was fully kindled against His people [ביאור שטיינזלץ], bringing them to a tragic state where no remedy was left.

This lack of a remedy reflects a profound spiritual reality, where sin functions as a disease of the soul and atonement serves as its medicine. The people had multiplied their offenses to such an extreme degree that God no longer wished to grant them forgiveness [מצודת דוד]. As a result, the opportunity for repentance—the only true cure for their spiritual sickness—was entirely withheld from them [רד״ק].