ירמיהו, פרק כ״ג, פסוק ט״ו

False prophets bear a heavy burden of guilt for their destructive moral influence on the entire nation. Because of this deep betrayal, God declares a severe punishment for them, illustrating His judgment through harsh botanical imagery. He speaks of feeding them a bitter herb and giving them a drink made from the squeezed juice of another bitter plant, which may even represent a deadly, poisonous drug [מצודת ציון, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary approach among commentators is that consuming these toxic and foul-tasting plants is a metaphor. It represents the many great and bitter troubles that God will bring upon these false leaders.

The root cause of this bitter judgment is that a deep moral rot spread directly from the prophets of Jerusalem to all the inhabitants of the land of Judah [רד״ק]. Commentators offer different perspectives on the exact nature of this widespread corruption. One approach views it as sheer hypocrisy, impurity, and fakeness, creating a society where people say one thing with their mouths but hold the exact opposite in their hearts [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another perspective focuses on the relationship between the prophets and the people, explaining that the corruption was rooted in favoritism and wickedness. Instead of rebuking sinners and guiding them back to the right path, the prophets flattered them, actively making their terrible actions appear acceptable and good [רד״ק]. A different viewpoint suggests that this influence caused a total internal breakdown of the nation. Under the guidance of these false leaders, the people learned to flatter their own evil inclinations, giving themselves permission to chase after their selfish desires [מצודת דוד].