The prophet Ezekiel was told by God not to mourn or cry when his wife died.
Ezekiel's story is found in the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically in the Book of Ezekiel, chapter 24. God instructed Ezekiel to be a symbol to the Israelites, demonstrating how they should react to the impending destruction of Jerusalem. God told him that his wife would die suddenly, but that he should not mourn her publicly, nor weep or shed tears. He was to groan silently and carry on with his daily duties.
This command served as a prophetic sign. Just as Ezekiel was forbidden to outwardly grieve for his wife, the Israelites would not be allowed to openly mourn the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem, which was a consequence of their sins. Their mourning would be constrained because their exile would prevent traditional mourning practices.
In summary, Ezekiel's personal tragedy became a powerful symbol of the national tragedy that was about to befall Israel. God's command not to mourn served to underscore the severity of the impending judgment and the limited avenues for expression that the people would have in exile.
