Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

CHERUB

(Heb. kĕrûḇ),

CHERUBIM

(kĕrûḇîm)

Mythological winged creatures, borrowed by the Israelites from ancient Near Eastern traditions. The Hebrew term is likely related to Akk. kāribu or karūbu (“intercessor”) or karibi, kurībi, karibāti (“gatekeepers”), the latter referring to the colossal mythological creatures which flanked the entrances of Mesopotamian palaces and temples.

The only uniformity among the many examples known from ancient Near Eastern art is that cherubim were winged creatures. Statues and reliefs depicting various types of cherubim have been found at many Near Eastern sites, including Aleppo, Carchemish, and Byblos; carved ivory depictions of cherubim have been found at Samaria and Nimrud. Many examples of colossal winged bulls and other beasts are known from Babylonian and Assyrian palaces and temples.

In Gen. 3:24 the Lord places cherubim with flaming swords over the way to the tree of life in the garden of Eden. In 1 Sam. 22:11 = Ps. 18:10(MT 11) the Lord is depicted as riding on a cherub as he flies through the heavens. Cherubim also flank or support God’s throne (Ps. 80:1[2]; 99:1; 2 Kgs. 19:15 = Isa. 37:16). Ezekiel envisions cherubim as four-winged and four-faced “living creatures” accompanied by whirling wheels (Ezek. 1:4-28; 10:1-22); in his vision, the cherubim support the platform on which the Lord is enthroned.

The Lord commands Moses to set two gold-covered wooden images of cherubim on top of the mercy seat covering the ark of the covenant (Exod. 25:18-20; 37:6-9; Num. 7:89; 1 Sam. 4:4); it was from between these creatures that the Lord would speak to Moses and reveal his plans for Israel. Pictures of cherubim were woven in the fabric of the veil and curtains of the tabernacle (Exod. 26:1, 31). Later, in the Jerusalem temple, images of cherubim were carved into the walls (1 Kgs. 6:29), woven into the veil (2 Chr. 3:14), and carved into the panels of the 10 stands of the bronze lavers (1 Kgs. 7:29, 36). Two enormous cherubim made of olivewood and overlaid in gold were placed in the holy of holies (1 Kgs. 6:23-28; 8:6-7), covering the ark of the covenant and virtually filling the small room. Cherubim were the guardians of the Lord’s invisible resting place on earth, the mercy seat above the ark of the covenant in the Jerusalem temple.

In Ezek. 28:14 the king of Tyre is guarded by a cherub, which banishes him on account of his transgressions (v. 16; cf. Gen. 3:24).

Jennie R. Ebeling