Be ye not as your fathers - The Jews boasted of their fathers; but he shows that their fathers were refractory, and that ancient example and long usage will not justify disobedience (2Ch 36:15, 2Ch 36:16).
the former prophets - those who lived before the captivity. It aggravated their guilt that, not only had they the law, but they had been often called to repent by God’s prophets.