number (lO'O); they had each four faces the face of a cherub, a man, a lion, and an eagle (»), and ' four wings' (=')• As one of their faces was that of 'a chel-ub,' and the prophet on seeing them ' knew that they were cherubim ' (=»), the shape of a ' cherub ' as of a fabulous creature must have been well known through popular representations (cf. 1 K 7^). Unfortunately, the prophet s description throws no further light upon their shape. But pre- sumably it must have resembled that of an ox (ct. Ezk 1") He tells us that the ' glory of the LORD rested above 'the cherubim' (10'") ; that their pro- gress was straight forward D ; whUe they moved Sot with wings only, but with whirlmg wheels, and burning fire was between them («• '). We have the thought of the thunderstorm connected with their appearance in Ezk 1* ; the noise of their wings (I'-i) suggests the thunder; fare and lightning attend them (1"). , , ,
Altogether, this description, though much more complex and involved than any that has been sug- gested by the previous passages which we have con- sidered, presents no sort of contradiction to them. In all probability it represents an elaboration, in accordance with the general style and character- istics of Ezekiel's literary work, of the older and simpler conception. The 'cherub,' as one of the powers of heaven, in poetry impersonatea the storm-clouds that do j'^s bidding ; m Ezekiel s vision there are four such ' cherubim, correspond- ing to the four quarters of the sky. In poetry, J h!& ridden on the cherub; in the vision the cherubim not only flew, but moved on wheels, supporting the glory of J". In poetry the light- nings flashed before the cherub; in the vision there is fire between the cherubim, and the living creatures' ran and returned as the appear- ance of a flash of lightning. ^ ,
4. The representation of the 'cherubim occu- pied an important place in Heb. sacred art. (1) The ficures of two ' cherubim ' were placed on the mercy'seat of the ark ( Ex 25'»-»>)- Unfortunately, no niinute account is given of their appearance. We are only told that their wings lifted upwards, and were outspread so as to cover the ark, and that they were presented in a posture facing one another, but looking do%vn upon the ark—an atti- tude to which we may suppose the apostle makes reference in 1 P 1". They were «°!?J'°««'^, "' ' wrought gold, ' possibly hammered solid gold as opposed to plated gold. As the mercy-seat covered by their wings was only 3 ft. 9 in. (2i cubits) long, the tigures of the cherubim were quite
(2) Fi'mres of cherubim were introduced iato the veif or hanging screen which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies (Ex 26" ). It has commonly been considered that, as the w-ay into the Holiest was through this curtam, the thought intended by these representations of cherubim may have been similar to that expressed by the guardian cherubim who guarded ' the way of the tree of life ' in Gn 3. . tr i t
(3) Solomon's temple contained in its Uoly ot Holies two colossal cherubim, 10 cubits (or 15 ft.) high, made of olive wood and overlaid with goUl. The wings of the cherubim were spread out, and measured 10 cubits from the extremity of one wing to the extremity of the other. The Holy ot
Holies was a cube of 20 cubits or 30 ft. ; and the two cherubim touched with their outer wings the wall on either side, while they touched one another with their outstretched inner wings. Ihe whole span of their four wings was 20 cubits, equal to the width of the sanctuary. They each therefore stood at the same distance from one another as they did from the waU on either side (1Kb ). From this description we should certainly infer that they had each only two wings. In i L.h 6 the same general account is given of the cheru- bim' of 'image-work' in Solomons temple; but it is added that ' they stood on their feet, and their faces were toward the house, by which is probably meant, facing the entrance. It has been disputed whether the smaller cherubim which protected the mercy-seat of the ark were retained m Solomon's temple. And it may be granted that the height of the Solomonic cherubim made it perfectly possible, but scarcely probable.
(4) ' Cherubim ' were introduced, along witn 'palm-trees and open flowers,' into the carved woodwork with which the walls and doors of the exterior and interior of the temple were adorned (1 K6-' '"") In the description of the brazen sea' it is recorded that in the ornamentation there were figures of ' lions, oxen, and cherubim (1 JV / ). From these OT passages we can gather no pre- cise conclusion as to the shape and general figure of the cherub, according to Hebrew treatment in poetry and art. It had Nvings ; it stood on feet (2 Ch) ; its face was not that of a man, a lion, or an eagle (Ezk 10"). It may have resembled an ox^ But we are driven rather to suppose that it^ hgure was an imaginary one, like that of a griffin or a