Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 24:17
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
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 those akin to him, if not solely designed, as Jarchi thinks; whose note on (<032102>Leviticus 21:2), is, there are none his kin but his wife; so that Ezekiel, though a priest, was not exempted from the observation of funeral rites, but obliged to them, had he not been forbid by a special order from the Lord: the particulars of which follow: bind the tire of thine head upon thee; cap or turban, wore on the head, as a covering of it, and ornament to it, as the word used signifies; and the priests’ bonnets were for glory and beauty, (<022840>Exodus 28:40), and such was the tire about the prophet’s head, since he was a priest; and which, in time of mourning, was taken off, and it was customary for mourners to be bare headed; and though the high priest might not uncover his head and rend his clothes for the dead, (<032110>Leviticus 21:10), yet other priests might, unless they had a particular and special prohibition, as Ezekiel here; (see <031006> Leviticus 10:6) and yet it seems, by some instances, particularly that of David’s mourning for Absalom, that the head was covered at such a time, (<101905>2 Samuel 19:5) and Kimchi on the place expressly says, that it was the way and custom of mourners to cover themselves; and certain it is, that in later times, however, it has been the usage of the Jews to cover their heads in mourning; for this is one of the things expressly forbid in the Jewish canons, as Maimonidesf381 says, to be used in mourning for the dead, namely, making bare the head; and covering the head is what mourners are obliged tof382; this Gejerusf383 reconciles, by observing, that at the first of the mourning they used to take off of their heads what they wore for the sake of ornament, such as the tire, or bonnet here; but after a while covered themselves with veils when they went abroad, or others came to them. Jarchi interprets this of the “tephillim”, or phylacteries the Jews wore about their heads; and so the Talmudf384; and the Targum is, “let thy “totaphot” or frontlets be upon thee;” of which interpretation Jerom makes mention; but these things do not appear to be in use in Ezekiel’s time: and put on thy shoes upon thy feet: which used to be taken off, and persons walked barefoot in times of mourning, (<101530>2 Samuel 15:30), and this custom continues with the Jews to this day; and which they say is confirmed by this passage. One of their canonsf385 runs thus, “they do not rend garments, nor pluck off the shoe for any, until he is dead;” which supposes they do, and should do, when he is dead: and this is one of the things, their writersf386 say, is forbidden a mourner for the dead, namely, to put on his shoes; and they ask, from whence it appears that a mourner is forbid to put on his shoes? the answer is, from what is said to Ezekie…
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