ירמיהו, פרק י״ט, פסוק י״ד

After completing his mission in the valley, the prophet returns to the center of public life and stands in the courtyard of the Temple to address the crowds. The message he delivers is the same harsh prophecy of ruin that he had just enacted by breaking a clay flask [מצודת דוד].

There is a notable shift in the audience for this warning. Originally, only a small group of people accompanied him to the valley [ביאור שטיינזלץ], consisting mainly of priests and elders. Jeremiah feared that these leaders would suppress the severe warning and keep it hidden from the general public. To prevent this, he decides to go to the Temple courtyard and repeat the prophecy directly to the masses, ensuring the message is widely spread [אברבנאל].

This transition from the valley to the Temple carries deep significance regarding the prophet's safety and his standing before God. His initial mission to the valley was driven by an explicit divine command. In contrast, his decision to relocate to the Temple courtyard to address the crowds is made on his own personal initiative. This distinction explains the sudden turn of events that follows. While acting under direct orders in the valley, he was shielded by a unique divine protection that prevented his enemies from harming him. Once he acts on his own initiative at the Temple, that specific protection is lifted, leaving him vulnerable and allowing Pashhur the priest to strike him immediately [מלבי״ם].