SUMMARY
God tells EzekielEzekiel was a priest and prophet who was raised in Jerusalem and exiled to Babylon in 597 BCE. that his wife will die, but he is not to mourn. These actions will be a sign to Israel that God will destroy ‘the delight of your eyes,” just as God did to Ezekiel.
ANALYSIS
In this prophetic sign-act, the prophet’s personal life becomes a sign for the people. The person most dear to him, his wife, dies, and he does not mourn her death. The people notice this odd response and ask the prophet for an explanation. He delivers an oracleAn oracle is a divine utterance of guidance, promise, or judgment delivered to humans through an intermediary (who is often also called an oracle). In the Bible oracles are given by Balaam (in the book of Numbers) and by David (in 2 Samuel). A number... about profaning the sanctuaryA sanctuary is the consecrated area around the altar of a church or temple. It also means a place of safety where one can flee for protection. In the Old Testament, especially in the Psalms, God is referred to as a sanctuary, a refuge from... and the upcoming death of their sons and daughters.
It is a disturbing and dramatic moment in the book and in the life of the prophet. The prophet’s wife is used in order to demonstrate the intimate connection between the people and the TempleThe Jerusalem temple, unlike the tabernacle, was a permanent structure, although (like the tabernacle) it was a place of worship and religious activity. On one occasion Jesus felt such activity was unacceptable and, as reported in all four Gospels, drove from the temple those engaged.... The pain of losing this religious institution is comparable to the death of a spouse.
Some scholars have noted that priests are not allowed to come in contact with dead bodies as one reason for this prohibition. However, the people are clearly surprised by Ezekiel’s behavior and the restriction includes weeping and mourning, not just physical contact.
