Cherubim
Cherubim, the plural of cherub, are complex winged creatures that serve God. Their activities and appearance are described widely in The Bible, right from Genesis (i.e. guarding the entrance to the Garden of Eden), to Exodus (there are carved cherubim on The Ark Of The Covenant, shown in the illustration below, which contained The Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses), and far beyond.
- Cherubim were guardians of the entrance to the Garden of Eden after the expulsion of Adam and Eve:
"After He drove the man out, He placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:24) (see The Creation Of Adam And Eve)
- The Ark Of The Covenant had two golden cherubim on the top (as shown in the illustration):
"And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover." (Exodus 25:18-20)
- Ezekiel had a curious encounter with cherubim, and described their appearance:
"Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were
completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels. I heard the wheels being called "the whirling wheels." Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle." (Ezekiel 10:12-14) (see all of Ezekiel chapters 1 and 10)
- The appearance of the Cherubim in The Tabernacle In The Wilderness is also described in the New Testament:
"A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover." (Hebrews 9:2-5)
Fact Finder: Did the original Temple in Jerusalem, that was constructed by King Solomon, also have carved cherubim on the walls?
2 Chronicles 3:7
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