51 God Takes Ezekiel's Beloved Wife

God approaches Ezekiel and forewarns him that something that he greatly values will be taken from him instantaneously when it occurs. Further God says that Ezekiel must neither mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down. He is clearly given this command to provide another image to those around him regarding the destruction of Jerusalem which is reflecting God’s attitude toward these events. Ezekiel is given an incident in his private life which is made to portray one of wider, prophetic significance. That is, the destruction of the Temple by the Babylonians and God’s thoughts and emotion regarding these events. It seems that God has wept and been pained over the Jews leaving His comfort, care, and prosperity for sin and degradation. He still has emotional pain over the need to bring stern judgment upon Jerusalem but it is not as open and graphic as it was earlier. That this will happen suddenly to Ezekiel is representative of the speed with which the Babylonians will prevail in the attack on Jerusalem. Ezekiel was to stifle his anguish over the loss he was about to realize. He had to remain quiet and not have any outward displays of emotion.