יחזקאל, פרק ד׳, פסוק י׳

The prophet is instructed to perform a symbolic action that vividly illustrates the severe famine and distress of an impending siege. The primary approach among commentators is that the people trapped inside the city will eat in a state of constant fear. Terrified of starvation and hyper-aware that their bread supply is rapidly running out, they will not eat until they are full. Instead, they will carefully weigh and measure every single portion of food. The exact ration is set at twenty shekels, a meager amount equivalent to only about two hundred grams [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The severe limitation goes beyond the amount of food; it also dictates when it is consumed. The allotted time frame spans a full twenty-four-hour period, measured from a specific hour on one day to the exact same hour the following day, rather than just the daylight hours [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This paints a harsh picture of their suffering. Due to the extreme shortage of bread, the besieged people will not have the luxury of eating multiple times a day. They will be forced to survive on just one small meal for an entire day and night [רד״ק].