THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
The people inquired of the prophet, "Will you not share with us the meaning of your actions?" (20). To this, I responded, "The Lord’s message has reached me, instructing me to convey to the house of Israel: Thus says the Sovereign Lord: I will desecrate my sacred belongings, which include the glory of your strength and the desires of your hearts; they will not preserve your lives: those children you abandon will fall by the sword" (21-22). "You will follow my example: you will find no comfort from their words, nor will you partake of the sustenance provided by humanity, and there will be no adornments on your heads or footwear upon your feet. You shall not experience affliction, nor shall you shed tears or stand firm in your sins, nor will you offer solace to your fellow kin" (23-24).
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Ezekiel will express grief in awe, affirming, "As I have acted, so shall I continue to act: when these events unfold, you will recognize that I am the Sovereign Lord." In my actions, he declares, I have revealed prophecy and foretold what is to come. Just as I, upon the death of my spouse, refrained from typical mourning practices—not lamenting, shedding tears, or adopting a mournful visage—so too shall you be when your sons and daughters meet their demise. Both the sacred temple, which you have exalted and held in pride, will be violated by ruthless invaders, and you will endure countless other calamities. You will not be allowed to grieve; traditional expressions of sorrow, such as shaving your head, removing your footwear, or easing the weight of grief with tears will be forbidden. You will not partake in comforting meals, nor will you engage in any customary acts of mourning. You will remember the actions of the Prophet, and from the culmination of events, you will comprehend that his deeds served as a sign for you, prophesying what is to come.