ירמיהו, פרק כ״ג, פסוק י״ד

The spiritual leaders of Jerusalem, entrusted with guiding the nation's moral compass and speaking on behalf of God, fell into profound corruption. Rather than correcting the people, they actively drove society toward a moral collapse rivaling the most infamous cities in history.

Although these individuals presented themselves as true prophets of God rather than followers of idols like Baal, their path was fundamentally wicked [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Their conduct was considered scandalous, filthy, and entirely evil [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת ציון]. This moral decay manifested in two distinct ways, beginning with their personal lives. They engaged heavily in adultery and prostitution, even committing these acts with the wives of their peers [רד״ק, מצודת ציון]. Alongside these personal sins, they lived a life of deceit, falsely claiming to speak the word of God [רד״ק].

The second, equally devastating aspect of their corruption was their influence on the broader public. Instead of guiding the people toward repentance, these leaders actively encouraged the wicked. They delivered false prophecies, assuring sinners that they would experience peace and safety [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. By providing these false comforts, the prophets stripped away any motivation for the wrongdoers to abandon their evil paths and return to God.

The combination of the leaders' personal sins and their public deception brought the nation to an unprecedented low. A complete societal collapse occurred, drawing direct comparisons to the ancient destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. This ruin encompassed everyone; the entire population of Judah and the specific residents of Jerusalem were equally implicated [מצודת דוד]. Ultimately, the prophets and the common people became indistinguishable in their wickedness, mirroring the absolute depravity of Sodom and Gomorrah [רד״ק].