ירמיהו, פרק ל״ז, פסוק ב׳

A profound culture of denial gripped the nation, blinding both its leaders and its citizens to impending disaster. Despite clear and urgent warnings from God, a complete refusal to listen took hold across all levels of society. The primary message they ignored was a direct command not to rebel against Babylon [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This widespread disobedience marked a severe spiritual and social collapse, especially when compared to the recent past. During the reign of the previous king, Jehoiakim, the general public remained open to prophetic guidance, even as the king himself acted wickedly and stood against the prophet. However, under the rule of King Zedekiah, the moral decay reached its peak. The entire nation shut its ears to the truth. Consequently, Zedekiah, a weak ruler lacking personal independence, simply followed the rebellious desires of his people rather than guiding them [מלבי״ם].