א וַיְהִי דְבַר־ה' אֵלַי לֵאמֹר׃

The word of the Lord was with me, saying:

ב הָלֹךְ וְקָרָאתָ בְאָזְנֵי יְרוּשָׁלַם לֵאמֹר כֹּה אָמַר ה' זָכַרְתִּי לָךְ חֶסֶד נְעוּרַיִךְ אַהֲבַת כְּלוּלֹתָיִךְ לֶכְתֵּךְ אַחֲרַי בַּמִּדְבָּר בְּאֶרֶץ לֹא זְרוּעָה

Go, and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem. This appeal to Jerusalem expresses God’s relationship with the entire nation of Israel. Like the terms “Zion” and “daughter of Zion,” the designation “Jerusalem” in the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah refers both to the city of Jerusalem and its residents, as well as to the nation as a whole. Prophesy to them, saying: So said the Lord: I have always remembered for you the kindness of your youth, the love of your nuptials, how you loved Me when you were My bride. This was during your following Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. When you left Egypt, the land where your parents were born and where you yourselves were born and raised, to follow after Me, you did not emigrate from one country to another; rather, you left for the wilderness on My command. This virtuous action will be remembered for eternity.