24:18 my wife died. The sudden death of the one who was “the desire of thine eyes” (Ezekiel 24:16) was no doubt a great grief to Ezekiel; yet God had told him to “make no mourning for the dead” (Ezekiel 24:17). This would seem cruel, but this instruction had to do primarily with any public show of mourning, not private grief. This was intended as a striking model for the people of Jerusalem, who would likewise very soon be suffering the loss of many loved ones in the impending siege and invasion by Nebuchadnezzar. It was customary in Israel to mourn the dead openly for several days, but this would be dangerous, if not impossible, when under attack by the Babylonians.