Yirmiyahu 23-24

As a continuation to the rebuke which was addressed to the kings in prakim 21 and 22, perek 23 rebukes the leaders of the nation.  The leaders are compared to shepherds who have abandoned their flocks, just as they have not taken care of their people and thereby brought the nation to the difficult situation they are in. The rebuke ends with a prophecy of future consolation which speak of establishing new, trustworthy shepherds, and of setting up a new king from the House of David who will embody the values of David, justice and righteousness.  In the continuation, the prophet turns to a different type of leader - the false prophets, who constitute one of the most difficult obstacles in Yirmiyahu's life. The false prophets prophesize in God's name, but their prophecies are lies and foresee peace for the sinning nation. Yirmiyahu turns to them and points out the foundation of lies upon which their behavior rests and the differences between them and the true prophets. In addition, he rebukes them for leading the nation astray with their false prophecies and thereby causing the situation to further deteriorate.  

After the exile of Yehoyachin king of Yehudah, along with the elite members of society, his uncle, Tzidkiyahu, became king of the people who were left in Israel. Those who remained in Israel interpreted the fact that God had not exiled them as a sign that they were better than those who were exiled to Babylonia. Yirmiyahu, however, has a vision which shows this to be wrong:  the exiles in Babylonia will merit returning to the land and reestablishing themselves while those who remain in the land will become lost.