Jeremías 17:27 Midrash: Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition) & Aggadat Bereshit

R. Juda, the son of R. Samuel, in the name of Rab, said: "Conflagration is not frequent excepting only where violation of the Sabbath is found; for it is said (Jer. 17, 27.) But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, and to enter into the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then will I kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem and it shall not be quenched." What is meant by And it shall not he quenched? R. Nachman b. Isaac said: "It means 'At a time when men to quench it will not be accessible.' " Abaye said: "Jerusalem would not have been destroyed, but for the sin of violating the Sabbath, for it is said (Ez. 22, 26.) And from my Sabbaths do they turn away their eyes so that I am profaned among them." R. Abuhu said: "Jerusalem would not have been destroyed had it not been for the sin that they ceased to read the Sh'm'a every morning and evening, for it is said (Is. 5, 11.) Woe unto those that rise up early in the morning that they may run after strong drink, etc., And there are harp and psaltery timbrel and flute and wine and their drinking feasts, but the deeds of the Lord, they regard not. Therefore, are my people led into exile, for want of knowledge." R. Hamnuna said: "Jerusalem would not have been destroyed but for the sin that they ceased to teach small children, for it is said (Jer. 6, 11.) Pour it out over the child in the street. Why pour it out? Because the child is in the street [and not in school]."

Chapter (73) 74: Prophets [1] "Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob" (Jeremiah 2:4). This means that just as the new heavens and the new earth (Isaiah 66:22), when the Lord speaks, they come into being, as it is said, "By the word of the Lord the heavens were made" (Psalms 33:6). But you do not listen. "Hear the word of the Lord" and nullify all other words, "I am [the Lord your God]" (Exodus 20:2). They denied the Lord (Jeremiah 5:12). "You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). "For your gods [Israel] were as numerous as your cities" (Jeremiah 2:28). "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain" (Exodus 20:7). "But if they swear falsely, then my oath to them is nullified" (Jeremiah 5:2). "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8). "And they have desecrated my Sabbaths" (Ezekiel 22:8). "Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12). "Father and mother were treated lightly among you" (Ezekiel 22:7). "You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:13-15). "But you murder, commit adultery, and steal" (Hosea 4:2). "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16). "For false witnesses rise up against me" (Psalms 27:12). "You shall not covet" (Exodus 20:17). "They covet fields and seize them" (Micah 2:2). Although you nullified all other commandments, one commandment remains, and I will forgive you. And what is that? The Sabbath, as Jeremiah said to Israel, "Do not carry a load out of your houses on the Sabbath day or do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your forefathers" (Jeremiah 17:22). "And this city shall remain forever" (Jeremiah 17:25). "But if you do not listen to me" (Jeremiah 17:27), "I swear by myself," declares the Lord, "that this house will become a desolation" (Jeremiah 22:5). Therefore, it is said, "Hear the word of the Lord," and "Hear the word of the Lord" means only the Sabbath, as it is said, "From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me," declares the Lord" (Isaiah 66:23). Similarly, the Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them, 'You must observe my Sabbaths'" (Exodus 31:13).