ישעיהו, פרק ט׳, פסוק ט״ו

A destructive relationship between corrupt leadership and a misled public ultimately brings about the ruin of an entire society. When a nation fractures into those who guide poorly and those who blindly follow, destruction touches every level of the community, from the highest officials to the common citizens. Because the leadership steers the masses toward disaster, God brings judgment upon the entire nation, sparing no one, not even the youth [מלבי״ם, שד״ל].

The first group in this dynamic consists of the leaders and guides who are entrusted with establishing the public and keeping them on a straight, moral path [רש״י, מצודת דוד, שד״ל, שטיינזלץ]. However, rather than providing true direction, these figures actively mislead the people, causing them to wander away from the right way [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון]. Even if these leaders genuinely believe they are offering proper guidance, they are actually giving terrible advice that leads the nation astray [רד״ק].

The second group is made up of the followers who absorb this instruction and adopt the ways of their leaders [רש״י, שד״ל, שטיינזלץ]. The general public might even view these followers as upstanding and properly guided citizens [מצודת דוד]. Yet, the outcome of following such leadership is absolute devastation. The followers become corrupted, confused, and ultimately destroyed [מצודת ציון, רד״ק, שטיינזלץ]. They are drawn into hidden, bewildering paths from which there is no escape, completely ruining their moral direction [רש״י].

Even though the primary fault lies with the leaders who gave the wrong directions, the followers are not free from guilt or punishment. By embracing this flawed guidance, the followers themselves become deeply corrupt, bringing judgment upon their own heads [מלבי״ם].