16. desire of . . . eyes--his wife: representing the
sanctuary
(Eze 24:21)
in which the Jews so much gloried. The energy and subordination of
Ezekiel's whole life to his prophetic office is strikingly displayed in
this narrative of his wife's death. It is the only memorable event of
his personal history which he records, and this only in reference to
his soul-absorbing work. His natural tenderness is shown by that
graphic touch, "the desire of thine eyes." What amazing subjection,
then, of his individual feeling to his prophetic duty is manifested in
the simple statement
(Eze 24:18),
"So I spake . . . in the morning; and at even my wife died;
and I did in the morning as I was commanded."
stroke--a sudden visitation. The suddenness of it enhances the
self-control of Ezekiel in so entirely merging individual feeling, which
must have been especially acute under such trying circumstances, in the
higher claims of duty to God.
JFB.
Picture Study Bible