ירמיהו, פרק י״ח, פסוק כ׳

The life of a prophet often carries a heavy emotional burden, especially when deep love and dedication to the people are met with hatred and assassination attempts. Jeremiah expresses this profound tragedy through a painful question, asking if it is right to repay good with evil.

He faces a deadly plot orchestrated by his own people. Their harmful thoughts and desire to kill him are compared to digging a deep pit to trap him [מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Alternatively, this hidden trap represents a specific plan to secretly give the prophet a deadly poison, striking him without warning just as a person falls into a concealed hole [רד״ק].

In the face of this betrayal, Jeremiah turns to God, asking Him to remember the countless times he stood in prayer to defend the people and turn away His anger. A tragic gap exists between the truth and what the nation understood. While Jeremiah carried the sorrow of the people and prayed endlessly for their well-being, the public was completely unaware of his private prayers and only heard his harsh warnings [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. His devotion was so absolute that he continued to pray for their benefit right up until the very moment God revealed their deadly plot against him [רד״ק].