By Elimu Assistant Team 
- The Israelites had forsaken the covenant way of life.
- They had forsaken the religion of their forefathers/worshipped idols.
- Israelites had persecuted/rejected the prophets of Yahweh.
- They ignored the message of the true prophets.
- Their rulers were weak/did nothing to return the Israelites to the covenant way of life.
- Nebuchadnezzar had defeated the Egyptians/made it easy for his army to match north.
- Their King surrendered leading to their deportation to Babylon as exiles.
- There were intermarriages with foreigners.
- There were false prophets/priests who spoke lies/failed to speak the truth.
- The Israelites did not repent their sins as warned by Prophet Jeremiah.
