Albert Barnes Commentary Jeremiah 2:8

"The priests said not, Where is Jehovah? and they that handle the law knew me not: the rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit." — Jeremiah 2:8 (ASV)

The guilt of this idolatry is ascribed to the four ruling classes:

• The accusation brought against the priests is indifference.
• “Those who handle the law” belonged also to the priestly class (Deuteronomy 33:10). Their offence was that “they knew not God.” .
• The third class are “the pastors” or shepherds, that is, the temporal rulers. Their crime is disobedience.
• The fourth class are “the prophets.” It was their business to press the moral and spiritual truths of the law home to the hearts of the people: but they drew their inspiration from Baal, the Sun-god. Upon the corruption of the prophetic order at this time, see the Jeremiah 14:13 note.

Things that do not profit — Here idols, which are not merely unreal, but injurious. See 1 Samuel 12:21; Isaiah 44:9.