A profound moment of preparation unfolds as God readies the prophet for the ultimate breaking point of the nation. At this time, the people will be stripped of the things most precious to them. This national devastation serves as a parallel to the personal tragedy the prophet experienced with the loss of his wife, an event God informs him about in advance [מלבי״ם].
The impending loss marks the period when God will take away the Temple, the very foundation of the people's strength, joy, and pride, along with everything they hold dear [מצודת דוד]. This designated time of destruction is not necessarily a single specific day, but rather represents the broader era of the downfall [אברבנאל בשם רש י ורד״ק].
As the tragedy unfolds, the people will also lose the deepest focus of their souls. Commentators explore the exact nature of this profound loss. Some explain it as the things that give the people a sense of pride and elevation [רש״י, מצודת דוד], while others describe it as the objects of their deepest yearning and longing [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. There is also a discussion regarding what exactly this deep desire represents. The primary approach among commentators is that it refers directly to the loss of their sons and daughters [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, רד״ק]. Conversely, another perspective suggests that this deep desire continues to describe the Temple, which the people viewed as absolute perfection. According to this view, the loss of their sons and daughters is an additional, separate tragedy, meaning God will take away both the beloved Temple and their children [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].
Ultimately, God shares this forewarning to prepare the prophet for the future arrival of a refugee. This survivor will carry the heavy news of the destruction all the way to Babylon and deliver it to him directly. The refugee will share this devastating report whether he witnessed the events with his own eyes or heard about them from other sources, such as captives who arrived later [אברבנאל, מלבי״ם].