ירמיהו, פרק ז׳, פסוק י״ז

A divine call directs the prophet to look closely at the clear reality of the people's actions. God draws attention to the absolute lack of shame among the wrongdoers and the highly public spaces where these events take place, specifically the open markets [מצודת ציון]. Commentators agree that the core of the rebuke is not merely the sins themselves, but how publicly they are committed. Rather than hiding their wrongdoing or acting in private, the people sin openly and without a trace of shame in the busy streets and markets [רד״ק, מלבי״ם].

Furthermore, the specific focus on the cities of Judah and Jerusalem reveals a deeper problem. These are not isolated mistakes made by individuals giving in to personal desires. Instead, it is a deliberate, collective effort by the entire society, acting together with the clear intention of angering God [מלבי״ם].