ירמיהו, פרק י״ח, פסוק ט״ו

A nation turns its back on a stable, proven heritage, choosing instead to chase after empty illusions. This betrayal is not merely a loss of faith, but a deliberate decision to trade a safe, clear way of life for a dangerous, unproven route filled with obstacles. The people forget God and offer their devotion to nothingness. This empty worship takes the form of sacrificing to false idols [ביאור שטיינזלץ], or burning incense to the stars and the heavens, a completely useless effort with no real benefit [מצודת דוד].

This betrayal leads to a profound spiritual fall. The exact cause of this stumbling is viewed in different ways. Some point to false prophets who actively lead the people astray [רד״ק], while others suggest the idols themselves are the cause of the downfall [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another perspective suggests this failure comes from a deep misunderstanding of nature. People observe the stars affecting the physical world and mistakenly conclude that these stars possess independent power worthy of worship, failing to realize that everything rests entirely in God's hands [מצודת דוד].

As a result of this failure, the people abandon the ancient, established routes. To understand the gravity of this choice, one must consider the different ways people travel. A standard road is wide and meant for the masses, a narrower path is suited for an individual, and the tightest trail is barely wide enough for a single footstep [מלבי״ם]. The primary approach among commentators is that the people completely forsake the good, proper trails, which are the very routes their righteous ancestors walked since ancient times. A different view suggests that the people actually claim these traditional, righteous trails are the true obstacles, using this twisted logic as a convenient excuse to leave them behind [רש״י].

In place of the old, reliable trails, the people choose to walk on unpaved ground. A proper road is flattened and made safe by the constant footsteps of those who came before [מצודת ציון]. Therefore, choosing an unpaved route symbolizes adopting a new, untrodden practice of idolatry [רד״ק]. It represents a descent into heresy, driven by a failure to deeply and honestly search for the truth [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].