I hearkened and heard - God, before passing sentence, carefully listens to the words of the people. Compare Genesis 11:5, where the…

I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his cour…

These words may be considered as spoken by God himself—that He from heaven examined the state of the people. However, it is more suitable to regard…

I listened and heard
These are either, the words of the prophet, as Kimchi and Abarbinel think; who listened and att…

What brought this ruin?

Here, the prophet shows their stubbornne and hardne in sin. For this reason, this section is distinct from everything that has come before it.