My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace. (Jeremiah 50:6)
Both the religious and the political leaders of Israel caused the people to stray. When the religious leaders of the nation lost their spiritual power, the rulers quickly descended morally.
From mountain to hill.
The prophet may have in mind here the fact that idolatrous worship was frequently practiced on hilltops. At least the figure portrays the forlorn condition of Israel spiritually, wandering as shepherdless sheep among the mountains, restless, but not remembering their true fold. Augustine of Hippo referred to the condition of the human heart thus: “Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.” (Confessions i. 1).