Ezekiel 24:17

Forbear to cry—or, "Lament in silence"; not forbidding sorrow, but the loud expression of it [GROTIUS].

no mourning—typical of the universality of the ruin of Jerusalem, which would preclude mourning, such as is usual where calamity is but partial. "The dead" is purposely put in the plural, as referring ultimately to the dead who should perish at the taking of Jerusalem; though the singular might have been expected, as Ezekiel's wife was the immediate subject referred to: "make no mourning," such as is usual, "for the dead, and such as shall be hereafter in Jerusalem" (Jeremiah 16:5-7).

tire of thine head—thy headdress [FAIRBAIRN]. JEROME explains, "Thou shalt retain the hair which is usually cut in mourning." The fillet, binding the hair about the temples like a chaplet, was laid aside at such times. Uncovering the head was an ordinary sign of mourning in priests; whereas others covered their heads in mourning (II Samuel 15:30). The reason was, the priests had their headdress of fine twined linen given them for ornament, and as a badge of office. The high priest, as having on his head the holy anointing oil, was forbidden in any case to lay aside his headdress. But the priests might do so in the case of the death of the nearest relatives (Leviticus 21:2-3, Leviticus 21:10). They then put on inferior attire, sprinkling also on their heads dust and ashes (compare Leviticus 10:6-7).

shoes upon thy feet—whereas mourners went "barefoot" (II Samuel 15:30).

cover not . . . lips—rather, the "upper lip," with the moustache (Leviticus 13:45; Micah 3:7).

bread of men—the bread usually brought to mourners by friends in token of sympathy. So the "cup of consolation" brought (Jeremiah 16:7). "Of men" means such as is usually furnished by men. So Isaiah 8:1, "a man's pen"; Revelation 21:17, "the measure of a man."