Ezekiel 24:18

18 Therefore I spake to the people in the morrowtide, and my wife was dead in the eventide; and I did in the morrowtide, as he had commanded to me.

Ezekiel 24:18 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 24:18

So I spake unto the people in the morning
Did the duty of his office as a prophet; exhorted and instructed the people, particularly informed them of what had been said to him by the Lord, the evening or night before, concerning the death of his wife, and how he was to behave under such a providence; which he told them of before hand, that, when it came to pass, they might have a further proof of his being a true prophet of the Lord: and at even my wife died;
suddenly, as it was said she should; this shows who is meant by the desire of his eyes, and what by the taking it away; and I did in the morning as I was commanded;
neither moaned, nor sighed, nor wept, nor shed a tear, nor used any of the common ceremonies of mourning, but dressed and ate as at other times, as he was ordered to do; this was the next morning after his wife died. So the Syriac version,

``in the morning of the other day;''

and the Arabic version,

``in the morning of the following day.''

Thus whatever the Lord commands is to be done, though ever so contrary to the customs of men, or to natural inclinations and affections.

Ezekiel 24:18 In-Context

16 Thou, son of man, lo! I take away from thee the desirable thing of thine eyes in vengeance, and thou shalt not wail, neither weep, neither thy tears shall flow down. (Thou, son of man, lo! with vengeance I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes, and of thy heart, but thou shalt not wail, nor weep, nor shall thy tears flow down.)

17 Wail thou (while) being still, thou shalt not make mourning of dead men; thy crown be bound about thine head, and thy shoes shall be in the feet, neither thou shalt cover the mouth with a cloth, neither thou shalt eat the meats of mourners. (Wail thou, but silently, thou shalt not make mourning for the dead; let thy crown, or thy covering, be put upon thy head, and thy shoes shall be upon thy feet, but thou shalt not cover thy mouth with a cloth, nor shalt thou eat the food of mourners.)

18 Therefore I spake to the people in the morrowtide, and my wife was dead in the eventide; and I did in the morrowtide, as he had commanded to me.

19 And the people said to me, Why showest thou not to us what these things signify, which thou doest?

20 And I said to them, The word of the Lord was made to me, and he said,