THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
I will increase the fuel and ignite the flame, so that the flesh may rot, the richness of the young perish, and the bones may disintegrate. It will become lean at the heads of the leaders, and the fire will rage; the metal will be consumed, and impurity will be cast out from among them, leaving their toxin diminished. Let their toxin be humbled; it shall not depart from them. I will magnify the leader, declares God, which means I will intensify the onset of afflictions. I will increase the fuel, or in other terms, I will provide many instances and nourishment for the fire of misfortunes, to stoke that flame and bring the cooked meat—symbolizing the inhabitants of the city— to ruin.
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Some will perish by famine, akin to charred bones, while others will be seized by various calamities, similar to stewed flesh. As the fire pressures intensely, the senses and essential needs will be consumed to the point that even the metal itself will melt away, vanishing along with the toxin. When the city's protectors were vanquished, the city fell, was plundered, and surrendered to flames. Yet, says God, despite the multitude of disasters it endured, the city was not liberated from its toxin; the propensity for sin persisted within. Therefore, He proclaims: Great is its toxin; it shall be brought low. In thy impurity, a dill. Because of your wickedness, declares God, you have created a festering sore, igniting this fire, due to the abundant sinful toxin within you that, now revealed, shall be regarded with shame. Because you have made yourself foul and have not purified yourself from your impurities: and will you remain unclean until I execute my wrath upon you? If you will not heal the wounds, you shall not be pardoned and cannot seek cleansing until you have borne punishment for all your just offenses. Thus, it is not the falsehood of the declaration that is demonstrated by the nature of the individual.