Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Ezekiel-Chapter 10

Ezek 10.1-22 tells us that Ezekiel is shown how Jerusalem will be burned with fire and how Yehovah will forsake the Temple in another Maaseh Merkavah (work of the chariot; this is the glory or God’s throne and how it is displayed in the earth) vision.

v 1…Then I looked, and behold, in the expanse (the vaulted firmament) that was over the heads of the Cherubim (the Chaiyot of Ezek 1) something like a sapphire stone, in appearance resembling a throne above them (Ezek 1, Rev 4).

v 2…And he (Yehovah) spoke to the man clothed in linen and said, “Enter between the whirling wheels under the cherub (collectively), and fill your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim (keruvim) and scatter them over the city (to bring about its destruction by fire).” And he entered in my sight (performing the above).

v 3…Now the cherubim were standing on the right side of the house (Temple, on the south opposite of the abominations on the north) when the man entered, and the cloud (Shekinah or presence) filled the inner court (of the priests).

v 4…Then the glory (kivod or radiance) of the Lord (Yehovah) went up from the cherub (on the Ark) to the threshold of the Temple, and the Temple was filled with the cloud (Shekinah) and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory (kivod) of the Lord (Yehovah-the withdrawal of the Shekinah to the threshold has already been described in Ezek 9.3; this verse repeats it).

v 5…Moreover, the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty (El Shaddai) when he speaks.

v 6…And it came about when he commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire (10.2) from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim,” he entered and stood beside a wheel (ophan).

v 7…Then the cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubim (who were close together) to the fire which was between the cherubim, took some and put it into the hands of the one clothed in linen (who received his command directly from Yehovah), who took it and went out (to carry out the order to burn the city).

v 8…And the cherubim appeared to have the form of a man’s hand (power) under the wings (speed).

v 9…Then I looked, and behold, four wheels (ophanim) beside each cherub (there is a special relationship between the wheels and the cherubim just like in Ezek 1. So Ezekiel says that the four original chaiyot are in fact one); and the appearance of the wheels was like the gleam of a beryl stone (a clear gem).

v 10…And as for their appearance, all four of them had the same likeness, as if one wheel were within another wheel (cutting off another at right angles and can move in any direction. God moves, no matter how involved it seems to us, with coherence so that lower causes can serve the higher).

v 11…When they moved, they went in any of the four directions without turning as they went; but they followed in the direction which they faced without turning as they went (Ezek 1.17-19).

v 12…And their whole body (literally “all their flesh” or “basarim”), their backs, their hands, their wings, and the wheels (ophanim) were full of eyes (omniscient, enlightened) all around (Ezek 1.18), the wheels belonging to all four of them (four ophanim to each chaiyot).

v 13…The wheels (ophanim) were called in my hearing the whirling wheels (“galgal” due to their whirling motion).

v 14…And each one had four faces. The first face was the face of a cherub (replaces the work of the ox/calf), the second face was the face of a man (intelligence), the third was the face of a lion (power) and the fourth the face of an eagle (speed).

v 15…Then the cherubim rose up. They were the living beings (chaiyot) that I saw by the river Chebar (ready to move as the Shekinah and Kivod got ready to leave).

v 16…Now when the cherubim moved, the wheels (ophanim) would go beside them (this speaks of harmony between Yehovah and his word, they are inseparable); also when the cherubim lifted up their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels (ophanim) would not turn from beside them (unity).

v 17…When the cherubim stood still, the wheels would stand still; and when they rose up, the wheels would rise with them (harmonious movements of the cherubim and the ophanim is described before the departure of the Shekinah and the Kivod from the Temple); for the spirit (purpose) of the living beings (chaiyot) was in them.

v 18…Then the glory (kivod) of the Lord departed from the threshold of the Temple and stood over the cherubim (the four cherubim in this vision).

v 19…And the cherubim lifted their wings (ready to move) and rose up from the earth in my sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate (into the outer court, the main entrance into the Temple compound; this also shows the peoples departure from God) of the Lord’s house. And the glory (kivod) of the God of Israel hovered over them (God of Israel is used here, not Yehovah, because it alludes to the covenant God, and he is withdrawing his Shekinah from the people of Israel who have rebelled against that covenant in Jerusalem and Judah).

v 20…These are the living beings (chaiyot) that I saw beneath the God of Israel by the river Chebar (he recognized them); so I knew that they were cherubim (chaiyot are cherubim).

v 21…Each one had four faces and each one four wings, and beneath their wings was the form of human hands (their activity in the Lord is not something to boast about and did not come from themselves, but it is God who supports them).

v 22…As for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the river Chebar. Each one went straight ahead (their movement the departure from the Temple under the purpose of God. Remember, spiritual movement carrying out of God’s will).

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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