“I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.”
The accusation 'You were angry with my people, you greatly oppressed them' shifts focus from Babylon's imperial pride to her crimes against Israel, establishing moral accountability. This verse grounds God's judgment in response to covenant violation: Babylon exceeded the role God assigned her (instrument of punishment) and added cruelty that demands retribution. The specification 'greatly oppressed' documents the severity of exile's trauma, validating the exiles' anguish. This prevents judgment from appearing arbitrary—it responds to documented crimes.
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