Divine judgment eventually reaches a breaking point, shifting from active destruction to a state of calm and profound clarity. This severe punishment is not merely a reaction to sin, but an educational process designed to reveal the true source and reason behind the suffering.
To understand this process, there is a careful distinction in the types of divine anger expressed. There is an internal anger harbored within the heart, and an external anger that manifests in the physical world as active punishment [מלבי״ם]. The resolution of this anger unfolds in three distinct stages. First, the external punishment comes to a complete end [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. Second, God quiets His internal anger, bringing a sense of relief so that His spirit is no longer troubled [רש״י, שטיינזלץ]. Finally, a state of comfort is reached, where God, as it were, finds consolation for the pain and frustration caused by the Israelites [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, מצודת ציון].
These three phases of resolution directly mirror the three severe punishments decreed earlier upon the people. The end of the external anger corresponds to the third of the nation destined to die within the city. The quieting of the internal anger aligns with the third who will fall by the sword outside the city. The final state of comfort reflects the destiny of the last third, who will be scattered in every direction [מלבי״ם].
This fierce anger was specifically triggered by the defilement and impurity the people brought into the Temple [מצודת ציון]. Because of this profound offense, God withheld His usual attribute of mercy, allowing His anger to run its full course [מלבי״ם]. The ultimate goal of this absolute punishment is public recognition. Once the disaster is fully realized, everyone will understand that the decree was an act of exact divine providence. It will become undeniably clear that God is the author of these events and that the prophet did not invent the warnings [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].
A deeper look reveals a distinction in how divine decrees operate. Sometimes, God speaks in anger, and the mere act of expressing that frustration is enough to calm Him and cancel the harsh decree. In this case, however, the decree did not stem from passing anger but from a deep, calculated zeal in direct response to the people's evil actions. Therefore, the decree could not be undone by words alone; it had to be carried out to its absolute completion [חומת אנך].