ישעיהו, פרק ג׳, פסוק י״ב

A deep crisis of leadership and a complete collapse of the social order strike the nation. Those tasked with guiding the public abuse their power, plunging society into a moral and spiritual void. The government officials and officers behave with startling immaturity. The primary approach among commentators is that these rulers act like infants, entirely lacking the basic judgment to distinguish between good and evil. Others view their behavior as an exercise in mockery, noting that the leaders treat their heavy responsibilities with scorn and rule over the public as a joke [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, אברבנאל]. A third perspective suggests that the authorities are outright plunderers, aggressively robbing the citizens of what little they have [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. In stark contrast, one unique view argues that it is actually the impoverished citizens who mock the oppressive tax collectors, simply because the people are so economically ruined that they have absolutely nothing left to give [מלבי״ם].

The degradation of the social structure continues as power falls into the hands of those unfit to wield it. Most commentators understand this to mean that weak, easily swayed individuals have taken control, or that the government ministers have become so consumed by their own physical desires that they are effectively controlled by those who manipulate their hearts [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, שד״ל, שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל]. Another interpretive tradition views this takeover through an economic lens, suggesting that extreme financial subjugation has allowed ruthless creditors to seize the public's assets and rule over them with an iron fist [רש״י, רד״ק, מלבי״ם].

This crisis extends beyond politics and economics into the realm of spiritual leadership. The guides who are supposed to set the nation on a straight and joyous path are instead actively leading the public astray. Rather than offering moral direction, false prophets and flatterers praise the people for their corrupt actions. By falsely assuring the public that they are doing well, these leaders deceive the nation into believing their destructive lifestyle is correct [רד״ק, אברבנאל].

As a result of this disastrous leadership, the true path of the Torah is completely ruined. The commentators agree that these deceitful leaders do not merely misguide the nation; they thoroughly corrupt the very concept of truth. The original, righteous way of life becomes so blurred and swallowed up by corruption that it is no longer recognizable in daily reality. Consequently, the people stumble blindly, entirely unable to find their way back to the proper path [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, אבן עזרא, אברבנאל, מלבי״ם].