Through Huldah the Lord sent Josiah word that Jerusalem's ruin could not be averted. Even should the people now humble themselves before God, they could not escape their punishment. So long had their senses been deadened by wrongdoing that, if judgment should not come upon them, they would soon return to the same sinful course. "Tell the man that sent you to me," the prophetess declared, "Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read: because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched." Verses 15-17.

Herren lod Hulda give Josias meddelelse om, at Jerusalems tilintetgørelse ikke kunne afværges. Folket kunne ikke undgå deres straf, selv om de ydmygede sig for Gud nu. Deres sanser var blevet sløvet så længe på grund af synd, at de snart ville begå de samme synder igen, hvis de ikke blev straffet. Profetinden sagde: "Så siger Herren, Israels Gud: Sig til den mand, der sendte eder til mig: Så siger Herren: Se, jeg vil bringe ulykke over dette sted og dets indbyggere, alt, hvad der står i den bog, Judas konge har læst, til straf for at de har forladt mig og tændt offerild for andre guder, så at de krænkede mig med alt deres hænders værk, og min vrede vil blusse op mod dette sted uden at slukkes!" 15-17. vers.