ירמיהו, פרק כ״ו, פסוק ט׳

A prophet often faces hostility not because his words are false, but because they expose a reality the public refuses to accept. When the crowd confronts Jeremiah, their fierce opposition stems directly from the harsh content of his message rather than any doubt about its authenticity. They present a bitter argument: even if his prophecy is entirely true and comes directly from God, he never should have spoken it aloud against their will. The people simply refuse to listen to a warning of disaster, regardless of its divine origin [מלבי״ם].

Fueled by outrage, the crowd aggressively repeats his prediction that their city will face total ruin, sharing the tragic fate of Shiloh [ביאור שטיינזלץ] [מצודת ציון]. This anger quickly escalates into a physical confrontation. The masses assemble into a mob, closing in and completely surrounding the exact spot where the prophet stands inside the House of God [מצודת ציון] [מצודת דוד].