ירמיהו, פרק מ״ד, פסוק י׳

Deep crises and severe punishments often have the power to humble a person, acting like a heavy weight that grinds and crushes the spirit. This idea of being crushed serves as a metaphor for a broken heart and genuine submission. The people of Judah experienced heavy disasters brought on by their own wrongdoing, yet their stubbornness remained strong. Their hearts were not broken by their bad choices, and they refused to yield.

Instead of learning a lesson from the pain they endured, they persisted on their path, continuing to view their actions as perfectly acceptable behavior [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Because these hardships failed to bring the people to submission, the direct result was a complete lack of fear regarding divine punishment [מלבי״ם].

This deep-rooted defiance, characterized by an unbroken heart and an absence of reverence for God, ultimately led them to abandon His teachings. They actively chose to completely ignore the obvious consequences that fall upon those who violate His laws.