ירמיהו, פרק ב׳, פסוק כ״ט

During moments of crisis and danger, rather than looking inward and reflecting on their own actions, people often direct their anger upward. As enemies close in and disaster strikes the Israelites, they turn their frustration toward God. The primary approach among commentators is that the people begin to hurl accusations at God, demanding to know why He has abandoned them to their enemies and failed to save them from harm [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Alternatively, this confrontation is understood as a complete denial of guilt. In this view, the people attempt to put God on trial, debating His decrees and insisting that they have not sinned [רש״י, רד״ק בשם התרגום].

God responds to these grievances by exposing the deep flaw in their logic. He questions why they feel entitled to argue with Him or demand His protection, pointing out that they have no merit or good deeds to rely upon [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. The reason He has not saved them is that their rebellion against Him is absolute, encompassing the entire nation without exception. This widespread betrayal spans all ages, from the greatest to the smallest [רד״ק], and includes every layer of leadership, from kings and ministers to priests and prophets [אברבנאל]. Strikingly, the consequences of this rebellion even sweep up the righteous members of the nation. Because they live among the wicked, the righteous suffer the same fate when punishment arrives, much like a healthy cabbage that is damaged when a nearby thorn is uprooted [רש״י].