THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
The people inquired of me, declares the prophet, "Will you not share with us the meaning behind your actions?" And I responded, "The Lord's word has come to me, instructing me to address the house of Israel, saying: Thus speaks the Sovereign Lord: Behold, I shall desecrate my sacred things, the pride of your strength and the desires of your hearts, and they will not preserve your lives. Your sons and daughters whom you abandon shall fall by the sword. You will mirror my actions: you will find no comfort in their words, nor partake in the bread offered by men. Your hair shall not remain upon your heads, nor shall your shoes stay upon your feet; you will face no affliction, weep not, stand not in your iniquities, nor provide comfort to your brothers.
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Ezekiel shall lament in amazement, proclaiming, "As I have done, so shall I do." When these events unfold, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord. By my deeds, He states, I have revealed prophecy, and through my actions, I have disclosed to you what is to come. Just as I, at the passing of my beloved, refrained from customary mourning—offering no lament, shedding no tears, and adopting no sorrowful demeanor—so too shall you, when your children fall and the invaders desecrate the revered temple you once held in esteem. Alongside this, you will endure countless other tribulations. You will not be allowed to mourn. No customary gestures will be permitted, such as shaving your head or removing your footwear. You will not be able to relieve the weight of sorrow with tears, partake in a comforting meal, or engage in any of these traditional expressions of grief. You will remember the actions of the Prophet, and by reflecting on the culmination of these events, you will understand that the Prophet serves as a sign for you, foretelling the future through his actions.