The charge Jehovah brings against the church and state of Judah is that they have transgressed the Covenant He made with Moses, Exodus 19- 24. Therefore God will pour out on Judah the curses of the covenant described in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28.

The purpose of this Mosaic Covenant of redemption by atonement, reconstruction by law and reconciliation by the Temple was to make Israel fully aware that she is God's property, of whom he is creating a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, Exod. 19:5-6; I Pet. 2:5, 9.

This covenant has a central emphasis in Jeremiah's preaching: 3:16; 11:2-10; 14:21; 22:9; 31:31-33; 32:40; 33:20-25; 34:8-18; 50:5. Jehovah will judge Judah because she has disbelieved the promises and disobeyed the laws of this covenant.