Here was exhibited the long-suffering mercy of God. Even at that late hour, if there were submission to His requirements, the lives of the people would be spared and the city saved from conflagration. But the king thought he had gone too far to retract. He was afraid of the Jews, afraid of becoming a subject of ridicule, afraid for his life. It was too humiliating, at that late day, to say to the people: “I accept the word of the Lord as spoken through His prophet Jeremiah. I dare not venture to war against the enemy in the face of all these warnings.” {4T 183.1}

Her blev Guds langmodige barmhjertighed udvist. Endda på dette sene tidspunkt kunne folkenes liv være sparet og byen reddet fra kæmpebrand, hvis hans krav blev indfriet. Men kongen mente at han var gået for langt for at trække det tilbage. Han var bange for jødernes liv, bange for at blive latterliggjort, bange for sit liv. Det var for ydmygende, på dette sene tidspunkt, at sige til folket: "Jeg anerkender at Herrens ord er talt gennem sin profet Jeremias, jeg tør ikke føre krig mod fjenden, efter alle disse advarsler."