נחמיה, פרק ט׳, פסוק כ״ו

The spiritual decline of the Israelites was a profound distancing from God that ultimately led to total rebellion and the rejection of both the Torah and the prophets. This defiance is understood to reflect the sheer intensity and massive scale of the uprising [מצודת דוד]. However, it also points to a gradual process of deterioration. During this decline, the people first merely refused to listen and disobeyed God's word, but over time, their stubbornness escalated into a state of absolute rebellion [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

As a direct result of this rebellion, the people cast the Torah behind their backs, completely discarding it from their sight and their lives [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The peak of this sinful behavior culminated in the murder of the prophets who had desperately tried to guide them. These prophets constantly cautioned the people, urging them to return to God. Their warnings were delivered in a formal manner, akin to legal testimony. This method of warning in front of witnesses was used purposefully so that the sinners could never later deny that they had been properly cautioned about their actions [מצודת דוד].