They were to lead the people in the way of the Lord and instruct them in his good laws. But they did not live with God and thus they set a bad example. The leaders of the people also followed other gods, such as Baal, the god of fertility. So there were bad priests and false prophets. And the people followed them in this. Therefore the Lord takes legal action against all the people, against all generations—young and old.
8 The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit.