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What did Jeremiah criticize in his early messages to Judah?

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Painting by Rembrandt van Rijn showing Jeremiah sitting in a dimly lit cave, head resting on his hand in sorrow, with Jerusalem burning in the background. — Jeremiah *Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem*, oil on panel by Rembrandt, 1630: in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

In his early messages to the people of Judah, the prophet Jeremiah primarily criticized them for their apostasy, which he characterized as playing the harlot with other gods. He condemned the people for their false and insincere worship, their reliance on idols, and their failure to trust in Yahweh regarding national affairs.123

Additionally, Jeremiah denounced the prevalence of social injustice within the society. He traced the root of these transgressions to the corruption and "stubbornness of the evil heart," viewing the people's disobedience as an unnatural departure from their covenantal loyalty to God. Through these early warnings, he urged the Judaeans to repent and return to their faith, often utilizing symbolic actions to illustrate the impending judgment that would result from their continued moral and religious corruption.231