ירמיהו, פרק כ״ז, פסוק כ׳

During the exile of Jeconiah, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, swept through Jerusalem, taking captive a significant portion of its leaders and stripping the Temple of its golden vessels. While the gold was taken immediately, the copper vessels were left behind in the city. Even though these copper items held considerable value, Nebuchadnezzar did not feel the need to rush and take them during this initial wave of exile [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The captives taken to Babylon were the high-ranking ministers and the most important figures of Judah and Jerusalem. The elite status of these leaders is linked to the concept of whiteness or paleness [מצודת ציון]. This imagery highlights a stark class distinction in ancient society, contrasting the sheltered, upper-class officials with the simple, working-class people, who are metaphorically described as being dark.