The prophet's fearful answer was that the Chaldeans would return and destroy the city. The fiat had gone forth; no longer could the impenitent nation avert the divine judgments. "Deceive not yourselves," the Lord warned His people. "The Chaldeans . . . shall not depart. For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire." Jeremiah 37:9, 10. The remnant of Judah were to go into captivity, to learn through adversity the lessons they had refused to learn under circumstances more favorable. From this decree of the holy Watcher there could be no appeal.

Profeten gav det frygtelige svar, at kaldæerne ville vende tilbage og ødelægge byen. Ordren var givet, og den ubodfærdige by kunne ikke længer undgå de guddommelige straffedomme. "Nar ikke eder selv," sagde Herren advarende til sit folk. "Kaldæerne ..... drager ikke bort. Ja, om I så slog hele kaldæernes hær, der angriber eder, så der kun blev nogle sårede tilbage, hver i sit telt, så skulle de stå op og afbrænde denne by." Jer. 37,9-10. De, der var tilbage i Juda, skulle vandre i fangenskab, og her skulle de gennem modgang lære det, som de ikke ville lære under mere gunstige forhold. Den hellige vægters befaling kunne ikke appelleres.