In the dread day of the siege, when ruthless Babylonian hands would profane Yahweh's secret (or rather cherished) place, i.e. the Temple, famine would reign, and then not all their silver and gold, of which they had been so haughtily proud, could buy for them a bit of bread, nor could their gilt and silvered gods deliver them. Nor was it only the idolatry of their worship, but the violence, the cruelty, the injustice of their lives, their bloody crimes, that had brought this desecration upon the holy places. All the civil and religious leaders would be at their wits-' end, and, in the absence of true leadership the common people would be helpless. Then, when they are reaping the reward of their sin and folly, they shall know that I am Yahweh. (In Ezekiel 7:23 the words rendered make the chain are obscure and uncertain.)
Ezekiel 7:19-27
19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed:d their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.
20 As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it fare from them.
21 And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it.
22 My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbersf shall enter into it, and defile it.
23 Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.
24 Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled.
25 Destructiong cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.
26 Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.
27 The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.