ירמיהו, פרק כ״ז, פסוק י״ז

A stark ultimatum stands before the people, offering a sharp choice between surrender and total destruction. The prophetic plea centers around a haunting question of why the city should be reduced to ruins. This inquiry is meant to clarify the direct and unavoidable consequences of rebellion. If the people refuse to accept the burden of foreign servitude, the king of Babylon will inevitably conquer the city and destroy it completely [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The promise of survival is entirely dependent on this submission. The traditional reading of the prophet's call to choose life includes a deliberate, drawn-out pause. This slight hesitation serves a powerful purpose, magnifying the critical importance of choosing life over a stubborn resistance that can only lead to death [מנחת שי].