יחזקאל, פרק ג׳, פסוק ט״ו

Following a profound prophetic revelation, a prophet must eventually return to human reality. This transition is often jarring, leaving the individual deeply overwhelmed as he steps back into the daily life of his community. Arriving at Tel Aviv, which is simply the name of the settlement where the exiled community lived, he finds his people situated right along the banks of the Chebar River [רד״ק].

Upon seeing the exiles sitting together, he physically joins them [מנחת שי]. The shared act of sitting is highlighted to show that the prophet placed himself exactly where the people were, integrating into their ranks and sharing their exact physical reality [רד״ק, מלבי״ם].

However, despite being immersed in the community for seven days, he remains entirely isolated in his experience. He is gripped by a profound state of astonishment, panic, and complete silence [רש״י, מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. The overwhelming nature of the visions he has just witnessed leaves him paralyzed and unable to speak [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This extended silence is not merely a reaction to shock, but a necessary period of waiting. At this stage, God has not yet given him an explicit message to deliver to the people. Until he receives a direct prophecy from God to share, he has no choice but to sit among the exiles in complete stillness [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].