ירמיהו, פרק ל״ד, פסוק ט״ז

A severe double betrayal took place when the people retracted a clear moral and religious commitment, acting against both God and their fellow human beings. Two distinct and severe wrongs occurred at the exact same time.

The first offense was directed toward Heaven. By breaking the covenant oath they had sworn, the people directly profaned God's name [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. This was not merely a matter of ignoring an old commandment to free slaves. Rather, it was a blatant violation of a new commitment they had taken upon themselves within the Temple. Because they had formed this covenant with God acting as their witness, shattering it was a direct desecration of His name [ביאור שטיינזלץ, חומת אנך].

The second offense was a direct assault on the slaves themselves. The masters returned to seize the men and women they had already freed, an act that constitutes outright theft [מלבי״ם]. This represented a significant worsening of their behavior. In the past, their sin had been one of omission, simply failing to release their slaves. Now, however, they committed an active offense by physically taking them back [חומת אנך].

When the slaves were initially released, they were granted complete autonomy to go wherever they chose [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון]. Having gained full independence, they belonged solely to themselves [חומת אנך]. Yet, the masters canceled this newly acquired freedom. The slaves did not return of their own free will; instead, the masters captured them by force [מצודת דוד], subjugating them once again to the status of servants.