ירמיהו, פרק כ״ג, פסוק ב׳

A nation's leaders are meant to guide and protect their people, much like a shepherd caring for a flock. When leadership becomes corrupt, the resulting damage tears the fabric of society apart. Instead of nurturing the people, the leaders betrayed their duty, leading directly to ruin and devastation.

This destruction took two distinct forms. First, the leaders caused a deep internal division, breaking the nation into separate factions and distancing brothers from one another [מלבי״ם, מצודת ציון]. Second, they brought about the physical rejection and expulsion of the people, pushing them out of their homeland and into exile [מלבי״ם, מצודת ציון]. This tragic reality, where the nation was left scattered across enemy lands, was the direct result of the leaders' sins [מצודת דוד].

Beyond their active wrongdoing, the leaders failed through severe neglect. The primary approach among commentators is that they completely abandoned their duty to supervise and guard the people. They made no effort to guide the nation on a moral path or to pay attention to their spiritual state [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. Furthermore, they left the people vulnerable to external threats and wars, much like a shepherd leaving scattered sheep exposed to wild predators [מלבי״ם, רש״י]. A more vivid perspective highlights the depth of this neglect by comparing it to standard pastoral practices. A skilled shepherd might intentionally scatter a flock for grazing, but he carefully counts them first to ensure they can all be gathered again. These leaders, however, scattered the people without any accounting or supervision, proving they had absolutely no intention of ever repairing the damage or bringing the nation back together [חומת אנך].

Because of this massive failure, God responds with strict, corresponding justice. Since the leaders refused to watch over the people, God will now turn His watchful eye upon them, remembering their actions and delivering their punishment [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. This divine judgment will be absolute. God will not only punish them for their obvious crimes, but He will also expose the hidden evil lurking within their seemingly good deeds, such as pride and selfish motives, ensuring they face full accountability for the true nature of all their actions [חומת אנך].