ירמיהו, פרק מ״ד, פסוק כ״א

The prophet directly confronts the people, dismantling their excuses for idolatry. They attempt to justify their actions by claiming that burning incense is not an act of divine worship, but merely a mystical practice meant to yield specific benefits. The prophet firmly rejects this defense, clarifying that these actions are an abomination to God.

The people also question why they were spared from punishment in earlier eras, such as the days of Ahaz and Manasseh, when idol worship was at its peak. The prophet explains that the sins of past generations were never forgotten; rather, they accumulated over time. The burning of incense was a widespread offense directed at numerous idols, with each false god receiving its own specific type of incense [רד״ק, מצודת דוד].

Although God did not exact immediate justice upon them or their ancestors, He kept a strict account of their enduring rebellion across the generations [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. As God recalled the sinful deeds themselves, the sheer weight of these accumulated actions brought the thought of vengeance and punishment to His mind [מלבי״ם].