זכריה, פרק ז׳, פסוק י״א

The prophets' urgent calls to the ancestors of Judah were met with more than just passive indifference; they faced a deliberate and active wall of resistance. The rejection of these spiritual warnings unfolded as a calculated escalation of defiance.

The primary approach among commentators is that the initial reaction was a complete lack of desire to pay attention. The people simply refused to engage. [מלבי״ם] identifies this as the very first stage of rebellion, marked by an absolute unwillingness to listen to the message being offered.

As the resistance grew, it took on a physical manifestation. The people physically turned away in rebellion, an action symbolizing removal, distortion, and active defiance. Commentators paint a vivid picture of this behavior, comparing it to a stubborn cow refusing to accept a yoke, or a person rudely turning their back on a speaking friend to walk away. By twisting away, the people ensured they would not have to face the prophets or see the truths being presented to them [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. [אבן עזרא] equates this physical turning away with the classic trait of being stiff-necked, while [ביאור שטיינזלץ] suggests that this movement also included a dismissive shrug, signaling profound disinterest.

The rejection ultimately reached a peak of intentional isolation. [מלבי״ם] describes a clear escalation in the people's response. Once they had turned their backs to avoid seeing the prophets, the prophets responded by calling out in a loud voice. However, even as the sound reached them from a distance, the people deliberately stopped up their ears to block out the message entirely. As [אבן עזרא] concludes, their defiance was so absolute that they refused even the most basic act of hearing.