X G1 1-19. Particular. G2 20-23. General.
G1 H a 1. Appearance of the Throne.
b 2. Fire. Ignition. Command.
I 3-5. Position of the Glory.
H b 6,7. Fire. Ignition. Obedience.
a 8-17. Appearance of the Cherubim.
I 18,19. Position of the Glory.
483 B.C.
Ezekiel 10)
1 Then I looked, and, behold, in the expanse that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone (cp. 1:26. Ex. 24:10), as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
2 And He spoke to the man clothed with linen, and said, "Go in amid the whirling [wheels], even under the cherub, and fill your hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and toss them over the city." And he went in in my sight.
3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court. (It was here as in Ex. 19:9; 24:15,16,18. Num. 9:19; 12:10. 1 Kings 8:10.)
4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud (see 1 Kings 8:10), and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD'S glory.
5 And the sound (i.e. their movement, as though about to depart in flight. Cp. v.11) of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God (El Shaddai) when He speaks.
6 And it came to pass, that when He had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, "Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims;" then he went in, and stood beside the wheel.
7 And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims to the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.
8 And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a human hand under their wings.
9 And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the color of a beryl stone. (= the stone of Tarshish.)
10 And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.
11 When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place where one head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.
12 And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had. (Or, to the four of them belonged their wheels.)
13 As for the wheels, it was cried to them in my hearing, "O wheel." (Or, Roll, roll; as implying urgency and celerity for the accomplishment of all that was symbolized by the imagery of this chapter.)
14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub the one of v.7, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. (See 1:10. Rubin, ox is Ephraim.)
15 And the cherubims were lifted up (to bear away the symbol of Divine presence). This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
(Chebar = a length of time.)
)
16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.
17 When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
18 Then the glory of the LORD departed (this is what is signified by this chapter. In 43:1-7, &c., it is seen to return when Israel shall again be restored. The latter be as literal as the former) from over the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one (or [the whole]) stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
(The main gate of the House of Israel)
20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims. (I.e. which he had seen in ch. 1.)
21 Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
22 And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.
(They went in formation.)