ירמיהו, פרק י״ד, פסוק ט״ז

Ignoring the truth in favor of comforting lies leads to a catastrophic collapse of society. When a nation eagerly embraces false promises, the resulting devastation spares no one. The severe punishment is not reserved solely for the false prophets who spread deception, but falls equally upon the people who receive their words [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Although the public is misled, they bear full guilt for choosing to believe the lies [מלבי״ם]. According to [רד״ק], the people have a clear responsibility to distinguish between a true prophet, who demands adherence to the Torah, and a false prophet, who encourages idol worship. Even if these false leaders occasionally predict the future correctly or perform signs, the public should recognize this as a test from God. Any message that attempts to cancel the Torah is an absolute lie, and the people are expected to see through it.

As a result of this blindness, the people will be cast into the streets, victims of both famine and enemy violence. [מלבי״ם] notes the specific progression of these disasters, explaining that the combination of starvation followed by war will leave no survivors to bury the dead. The sheer number of casualties will be so overwhelming that proper burials will become impossible [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Furthermore, this lack of burial is not merely a technical consequence of battle, but serves as a severe, independent punishment added to the agony of starvation and death [רד״ק].

The tragedy will sweep through entire families, striking men, wives, and children alike. [רד״ק] explains that women are specifically affected because they tend to listen to these false promises even more than the men. The young children, meanwhile, suffer the consequences of their parents' sins, reflecting God's just judgment. Ultimately, God will repay the nation for their actions, pouring the consequences of their wickedness directly upon them [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Adding a deeper layer to this, [מלבי״ם] explains that the nation's capacity for sin has simply reached its limit. The very evil they created and nurtured is exactly what will now overflow and serve as their ultimate punishment.