ירמיהו, פרק נ׳, פסוק ל׳

The downfall of a great city and its warriors is an unavoidable consequence of its own past actions. The certainty of this impending doom is understood in two distinct ways. On one hand, it is viewed as an absolute, unbreakable oath from God [רש״י]. Alternatively, it represents a direct relationship between cause and effect. Because the city acted with deliberate malice against God, its total collapse is the natural and direct punishment for its behavior [מצודת דוד].

The harsh reality of this punishment plays out directly within the city limits, where its young fighters meet their end right in the open streets. They are trapped inside because a severe, suffocating siege is placed upon them. Enemy forces completely surround the city, blocking off every possible escape route and forcing the defenders to fall within their own walls [מלבי״ם]. As for the ultimate fate of these warriors, there is a clear consensus among the commentators. Their end is not merely a defeat in battle, but rather an absolute and complete destruction.