After decades of relentless warnings, the time for repentance has nearly run out. For twenty-three years, dating back to the days of King Josiah, the prophet tirelessly urged the people to abandon severe offenses such as bloodshed, forbidden sexual relations, robbery, and idolatry. Now, right before the impending destruction of the land, a final summary of these warnings is delivered.
As the message is conveyed, a subtle distinction arises in how the audience is addressed. One approach suggests that the prophet simply spoke directly to the residents of Jerusalem, as well as to any people from other Judean towns who happened to be visiting the city at the time [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. However, another perspective views the delivery as a reflection of physical reality. Because the prophet lived in Jerusalem, he spoke directly to the city's inhabitants who stood right in front of him. The people from the rest of Judah, who were not physically present, could not be addressed face-to-face; rather, the prophet could only speak about them and their impending fate [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].
The stubborn refusal to listen to these warnings ultimately sealed their doom, grouping the people of Judah together with the surrounding nations in a shared decree of destruction [אברבנאל]. This inclusion with the rest of the world stems from a profound shift in divine providence. Typically, while other nations are governed by the fixed laws of nature and the cosmos, the people of Israel are guided directly by God, transcending the natural order. When they follow His will, God overrides nature to protect them and cancel harsh decrees.
Yet, because the people of Judah sinned and refused to change their ways, God hid His face, withdrawing His special, supernatural protection. Consequently, they were left vulnerable to the natural course of events. At that time, the natural order dictated a period of immense, unstoppable success for King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, bringing ruin to all the nations in his path. He was destined to rule for seventy years—a timeframe that aligned perfectly with his peak natural influence, while simultaneously serving as a precise, divine punishment for the Sabbatical years the people of Israel had failed to observe in their land [אברבנאל].