The time had come for deep heart searching. While Josiah had been their ruler, the people had had some ground for hope. But no longer could he intercede in their behalf, for he had fallen in battle. The sins of the nation were such that the time for intercession had all but passed by. "Though Moses and Samuel stood before Me," the Lord declared, "yet My mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth. And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them. Thus saith the Lord; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity." Jeremiah 15:1, 2.

Tiden var inde til en grundig hjerteransagelse. Der var endnu håb for folket, mens Josias var konge, men han kunne ikke længer gå i forbøn for dem, for han var faldet i krigen. Folkets synder var så store, at det næsten var for sent at gå i forbøn for dem. Herren sagde: "Om så Moses og Samuel stod for mit åsyn, ville mit hjerte ikke vende sig til dem. Jag dette folk bort fra mit åsyn! Og når de spørger mig: "Hvor skal vi gå hen ?" så svar dem: Så siger Herren: Hvo dødens er, til død, hvo sværdets er, til sværd, hvo hungerens er, til hunger, hvo fangenskabets er, til fangenskab!" Jer. 15,1-2.