Ezekiel 24:17

“Forbear to cry, &c.] Groan or howl, or make any doleful noise: or, “be silent”f378: which the Talmudistsf379 interpret of not greeting any person: make no mourning for the dead; use none of those rites and ceremonies commonly observed for deceased relations and friends, particularly and especially for a wife; who is one of the seven persons for whom mourning is to be made, according to the Jewish canonsf380; and which the ties of nature, nearness of relation, and especially mutual and cordial affection, where that has taken place, require; and though a wife is not expressly mentioned among those, for whom a priest might defile himself by attending their funerals, yet must be included among…”

“Forbear to cry--or, "Lament in silence"; not forbidding sorrow, but the loud expression of it [GROTIUS]. no mourning--typical of the universality of the ruin of Jerusalem, which would preclude mourning, such as is usual where calamity is but partial. "The dead" is purposely put in the plural, as referring ultimately to the dead who should perish at the taking of Jerusalem; though the singular might have been expected, as Ezekiel's wife was the immediate subject referred to: "make no mourning," such as is usual, "for the dead, and such as shall be hereafter in Jerusalem" (Jer 16:5-7). tire of thine head--thy headdress [FAIRBAIRN]. JEROME explains, "Thou shalt retain the hair which is usually…”

“The death of Ezekiel’s wife took place in the evening of the same day that he delivered the foregoing prophecy. This event was to signify to the people that the Lord would take from them all that was most dear to them; and - owing to the extraordinary nature of the times - quiet lamentation for the dead, according to the usual forms of mourning, would be impossible. Ezekiel 24:17 The priest in general was to mourn for his dead (Leviticus 21:1 ff); but Ezekiel was to be an exception to the rule. The “tire” was the priest’s mitre. Eat not the bread of men - Food supplied for the comfort of the mourners. Ezekiel 24:23 Pine away - Compare Leviticus 26:39. The outward signs of grief were a…”

“Bind the tire - Adorn thy head, as thou wast used to do; go not bare - headed as a mourner. Thy shoes - ln great mournings the Jews went bare - footed. Cover not thy lips - It was a custom among them to cover the upper lip. Eat not - Of thy neighbours and friends, who were wont to visit their mourning friends, and send in choice provision to their houses. Ezekiel 24:18”

“Forbear to cry: Heb. Be silent, Psa 37:7 \*marg. Psa 39:9, Psa 46:10; Amo 8:3; Hab 2:20 make: Jer 16:4-7 bind: Eze 24:23; Lev 10:6, Lev 21:10 put: Sa2 15:30 cover: Eze 24:22; Lev 13:45; Mic 3:7 lips: Heb. upper lip, and so Eze 24:22 eat: Hos 9:4 the bread of men: Lechem anoshim not "the bread of mourners," as some render, but "the bread of other men," i.e., such as was commonly sent to mourners on such occasions by their friends. Jer 16:7 Ezekiel 24:18”