Ézéchiel 20:14 Midrash : Vayikra Rabbah & Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)

Another matter, “a man [adam]” is an expression of affection, an expression of brotherhood, and an expression of friendship. The Holy One blessed be He said to Ezekiel: “Son of man [ben adam],” son of upright people, son of the righteous, son of those who perform acts of kindness, a son who demeans himself for the glory of the Omnipresent and for the glory of Israel all his days.¹⁹This is derived because adam is similar to adama, the earth, which is lowly and tread upon by people (see Etz Yosef). Alternatively, it is derived from the fact that Ezekiel is called Ezekiel ben Buzi (Ezekiel 1:3), and Buzi is an allusion to one who is even willing to demean [mevazeh] himself (Midrash HaMevoar).
Another matter, “son of man [ben adam],” to what is the matter comparable? To a flesh and blood king whose wife and his children rebelled against him. He arose and expelled them from his house and sent them out. Afterward, he sent and brought one son that was with [his wife]. He said to him: ‘Son so and so, come and I will show you my house and the place of my residence that I have without your mother. Have my honor and my residence diminished even though your mother remains outside?’ So too, He appeared to Ezekiel son of Buzi, the priest, as it is stated: “It was in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth of the month” (Ezekiel 1:1), “the word of the Lord [was to Ezekiel son of Buzi, the priest]” (Ezekiel 1:3). This is the first example.²⁰God is rebuking Israel through Ezekiel by showing him that His glory has not diminished and His supernal abode is still magnificent.
In the second it says: “I saw, and behold, a storm wind was coming from the north” (Ezekiel 1:4). After He showed him the entire chariot,²¹This is a reference to Ezekiel’s vision of the divine chariot, in Ezekiel chapter 1. He said to him: ‘Son of man, is this My glory, that I elevated you over the nations of the world? Has My glory and My abode been diminished due to you?²²Is it befitting My honor that after I elevated you over the nations of the world, you sinned against Me? And do you think that My honor is dependent upon you and that because you have been exiled My honor has been diminished? As it is stated: “If they are humiliated by everything that they have done, inform them of the form of the House and its design, its exits and its entrances” (Ezekiel 43:11). Perhaps you will say there is no one to worship Me; know that there are before Me four hundred and ninety-six thousand ministering angels who stand and sanctify My great name every day, always, from when the sun rises until it sets, saying: “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3), and from when the sun sets until it rises, saying: “Blessed is the glory of the Lord from His place” (Ezekiel 3:12). And it goes without saying regarding the seventy nations on the earth.²³Although these nations were idolators, they all believed that God was the prime cause of all of creation (Etz Yosef). Why are you performing these dreadful acts and inappropriate acts that [cause Me to] anger you with the suffering that befalls you? But what can I do? I am doing so due to My great name that is called upon you, as it is stated: “But I acted for the sake of My name, that it not be profaned…”’ (Ezekiel 20:14).

R. Jochanan (and according to others, R. Elazar), said: "The wife of a man does not die [frequently] unless he is requested to pay [his donation] and has not to pay, as it is said (Prov. 22, 27) If thou have nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?" R. Jochanan said again: "To him whose first wife dies, it is as if the Temple had been destroyed in his days, as it is said (Ezek. 24, 10) I will take away from thee the desire of thy eyes, etc., and (Ib.) And when I had spoken unto the people in the morning, my wife died at evening; and (Ib. 21) I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the desire of your eyes." R. Alexandrai said: "To him whose wife dies, the world around him is dark, as it is said (Job 18, 6) The light becometh dark in his tent, and his lamp will be quenched above him." R. Jose b. Chanina said: Also his steps become shortened, as immediately it reads: The steps of his strength shall be narrowed. And R. Abahu said: "Also his advice is no more of use; as the end of the verse cited reads: And his own counsel shall cast him down." Rabba b. b. Chana said in the name of R. Jochanan: "Joining couples is as difficult as the dividing of the Red Sea, as it is said (Ps. 68, 7) God places those who are solitary in the midst of their families: He bringeth out those who are bound unto happiness. Do not read Motzi Assirim (bringeth out those who are bound), but read it K' motzi Assirim (like bringing out those who are bound). Do not read Bakosharoth (into happiness), but read B'chi V'shiruth (weeping and singing); i.e., at the Red Sea they wept first and then sang." Is this so? Has not R. Juda said in the name of Rab: "Forty days before the embryo is formed, a heavenly voice goes forth and says: 'This and that daughter to this and that son.'" This is not difficult to explain. The latter deals with the first marriage, and the former with the second marriage. R. Samuel b. Nachman said: "For everything there may be an exchange, but not for the wife of one's youth, as it is said (Is. 54, 6) And as a wife of one's youth that was rejected." R. Juda taught to his son, R. Isaac: "One can find pleasure only in his first wife, as it is said (Prov. 5, 18) Thy fountain will be blessed; and rejoice with the wife (Ib. b) of thy youth." "Whom do you mean?" his son asked, and he answered: "Your mother." Is that so? Did not R. Juda teach to R. Isaac his son (Ecc. 7, 26) And I find as more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, etc? And the latter asked him: "Who, for an example?" He answered: "Like your mother." True, she was irascible, but was easily appeased with a word. R. Samuel b. Unya said in the name of Rab: "A woman [unmarried] is an unfinished vessel, and she makes a covenant with [cares for] none but him who made her a vessel; as it is said (Is. 54, 5) For thy husband is thy master," etc. There is a Baraitha; No one feels the death of a man more than his wife, and no one feels the death of a woman more than her hushaud. No one feels the death of a man more than his wife, as it is said (Ruth 1, 3) Thereupon died Elimelcch, Naomi's husband; and no one feels the death of a woman more than her husband, as it is said (Gen. 48, 7) And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me.