Faced with a looming catastrophe, the natural and expected response is deep reflection, mourning, and repentance. Yet, in a shocking reversal, the people react to the approaching danger with wild abandon. Even as God Himself is described as mourning the impending destruction, the nation chooses to drown itself in material indulgence and celebration [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This revelry takes both an internal and external form. They experience a deep, internal feeling of joy in their hearts, which spills over into outward expressions of gladness through wild dancing and extravagant feasts [מלבי״ם].
The prophet captures the exact mood and words of the people as they prepare their banquets [אבן עזרא]. They slaughter their animals and consume meat with a distinct sense of contempt. Rather than preparing the livestock with the usual care, their actions are described simply as killing, highlighting a harsh disdain in their behavior [מצודת ציון] or perhaps just emphasizing the raw taking of life [אבן עזרא].
Behind their declaration to eat and drink because death awaits tomorrow, commentators identify two primary driving forces. The first approach views this as a psychological reaction born of utter despair. When a crowd is confronted with an inescapable disaster, such as imminent death at the hands of an enemy or a deadly plague, the natural human instinct can sometimes twist into a desire to binge on immediate physical pleasures. They adopt a mindset of seizing whatever they can before the end comes [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד, שד״ל]. This reckless indulgence is not merely a lack of fear; it is an active, explicit mockery of God's warnings and a deep desecration of His name [רד״ק].
On the other hand, a second approach suggests a much deeper theological rebellion. The prophets had previously warned the people that their actions would cost them their place in the World to Come. In response, instead of changing their ways, the people act out of pure defiance. Knowing they have lost their eternal reward, they resolve to extract every possible ounce of physical pleasure from their current lives in this world [רש״י].