ירמיהו, פרק י״ג, פסוק ט״ו

Responding to a prophet's call requires the people to lower their heads, set aside their pride, and fully absorb the divine message. A repeated call for attention asks the audience to truly open their ears [מצודת ציון]. While the customary call to pay attention follows a predictable sequence, the unusual phrasing here suggests a layered demand. The people are asked to fully accept the message, or at the very least, to listen closely now so they will recognize the truth when it unfolds in the future [מלבי״ם]. In its historical context, this demand to listen is a specific call to accept a harsh reality: the decree to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon [מלבי״ם].

A major obstacle to this submission is human arrogance. The warning to avoid being haughty is a caution against the kind of pride that prevents a person from yielding to God. This arrogance takes different forms. It can be a personal attitude, where individuals think they are already full of wisdom and moral standing, believing they no longer need the guidance or correction of the prophets [רד״ק]. Alternatively, this pride is tied directly to the political situation, serving as a warning against rebelling against the Babylonian king [מלבי״ם]. Ultimately, the core message is a general demand to avoid excessive pride [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The final justification for this humility is simply that God has spoken, making it essential for everyone to heed His voice [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This declaration reinforces the direct command from God to abandon arrogance [מצודת דוד], while also confirming that the difficult political decree to surrender is His explicit word [מלבי״ם].