And he made in the oracle two cherubim of olive-wood, ten cubits high;
Solomon filled the innermost room of the temple with two huge carved figures, one standing on each side of the ark. Why cherubim, why olive wood, and why on this scale?
Before asking why Solomon made them, it helps to ask what a cherub is.
The cherubim have been well described as "God's judicial executive, whoever it is entrusted to, and in whatever circumstances it is shown." They do not appear to be a distinct order in God's creation. They are symbolic figures instead. In His ways of government and judgement God sometimes uses angels and sometimes men. Whichever it may be, the instruments He employs would be God's cherubim for the moment.
The room already held cherubim. Small gold ones were worked into the lid of the ark, brought over from the tabernacle unchanged. Their posture made a point.
In the tabernacle they were hammered out of the same piece as the mercy seat, and they overshadowed it. They looked toward what lay hidden in the ark — the covenant of the law, placed inside it and written on tables of stone. The cherubim, two in number, were witnesses of the contents of the ark. At the same time they were attributes of the judicial power of God. These attributes made the covenant sure.
So these olive-wood giants are not replacements. They are something new, set beside the old. And they faced a different way — a point that turns on how one word is translated.
While the cherubim that belonged to the ark of the covenant remained unchanged — for it was the same ark that was in the tabernacle — Solomon put on either side of it the big figure of a cherub carved of olive wood and overlaid with gold. Each was ten cubits high… Then, instead of these cherubim looking downward toward the mercy seat like those on the ark, they looked outward. The word "inward" really means "toward the house," that is, outward. This fits the reign of righteousness that Solomon and the temple foreshadow. While there was nothing but the covenant, they gazed at it. But once God has established His throne in righteousness, He can turn toward the world to bless it according to that righteousness.
The same throne that once looked down at the covenant now faces the world outside. That shift points to a coming age, with one limit still in place.
In the temple the cherubim have their faces toward the house, that is, outward. God's attributes no longer look only at the covenant, keeping it despite everything. They also look outward to bless. It is the time of the millennium, but the veil appears again here in the temple. Whatever the blessing of the true Solomon's reign may be, Israel and the earth have no immediate, direct access to Him who is hidden in the heavens.
The wood itself carries meaning — olive is the tree that gives oil.
Also, in the inner sanctuary were two cherubim carved from olive wood. The olive is symbolic of Christ, from whom the Spirit of God (the oil) is sent from the Father. These were also covered with gold. The cherubim symbolise the government of God. Since there were two, this reminds us of the perfect balance of God's government. It involves both justice and grace, and both matter equally.
Their wings make the two figures into one span that crosses the whole room.
The wings of these cherubim spread out twenty cubits, filling the full width of the inner sanctuary, "and they stood on their feet, and their faces were toward the house." They are shown here not as looking into the ark, with the judicial action proper to them held in suspense. Instead, from their place in the inner sanctuary, they look out on the priests in their service before the veil, then on the worshippers in the outer court, and at last look on with perfect satisfaction at a world purified by judgment and brought into complete subjection to the God and Father.
- Throne. A cherub is not a portrait of some creature. It stands for God's judicial power — the arm that carries out His government, whoever He employs.
- Olive. The wood is the oil tree, pointing to Christ, from whom the Spirit is sent. This government is not bare power. It holds justice and grace in balance.
- Height. Ten cubits high, far larger than the small gold figures on the ark below. It is the same throne, now on the scale of a reigning kingdom.
- Gaze. The ark's cherubim looked down at the covenant. Solomon's look outward. Once righteousness reigns, God can turn toward the world to bless it.
- Reach. Their wings fill the room wall to wall. That span takes in the priests, then the worshippers outside, then a world brought into full subjection to God.
and one wing of the cherub was five cubits, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub, ten cubits from the end of one wing to the end of the other wing;
Solomon's inner sanctuary held two huge winged figures. Verse 24 measures one of them wing by wing, and those numbers carry meaning.
These were not the gold figures on the ark, the chest that held the covenant. Solomon set up something new beside the old.
One of the most striking features of Solomon's Temple was the great cherubim set up in the Oracle, or Holy of Holies. They were in addition to the gold figures on the ark. The ark was exactly the same in the Temple as in the Tabernacle, apart from its contents. The large cherubim were each ten cubits high (about fifteen feet), and each had two wings… The breadth of the wings was the same as the height of the cherubim themselves. They touched the walls of the Oracle on either side, and they touched each other in the middle.
These figures picture how God carries out judgment and rule.
The cherubim have been well described as "God's judicial executive — whoever He entrusts it to, and whatever the circumstances where He shows it." They do not appear to be a separate order in God's creation. They are symbolic figures. In His ways of government and judgement God sometimes uses angels and sometimes men. Whichever it may be, the instruments employed would be God's cherubim for the moment.
Another writer looks at the wood they were carved from, and at the fact that there were two.
Also, in the inner sanctuary were two cherubim carved from olive wood. The olive is symbolic of Christ, from whom the Spirit of God (the oil) is sent from the Father (John 15:26). These were also covered with gold (v. 28)… The cherubim symbolize the government of God. There were two of them. This reminds us of the perfect balance of God's government, which involves both justice and grace. Both matter just as much.
Five plus five gives ten for one cherub. The two together give twenty — the width of the most holy place. One writer draws deep peace from that exact fit.
The greatest care is taken to show that the span of the cherubim's wings was the exact breadth of the holiest. "The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits; the cherubim stood on their feet, facing the nave [the main hall]." Not one cubit short of the breadth of the holiest. Can anything give more solid peace than this? The consuming judgment of God on sin was according to God's own measure of sin. Not our thought of sin, not our measure, but according to the divine presence.
The cherubim on the ark gazed at the covenant. These new ones looked out instead. The change of gaze marks a change in what God is doing.
The cherubim had a new position. The ones belonging to the ark remained the same. The wing of one of these new cherubim touched the wall of the house on one side, and the wing of the other cherub touched the wall on the other side. Their wings extended from one side of the house to the other. They looked not towards the ark, but outwards. Now righteousness reigns and stands established. So these symbols of God's power can look outwards in blessing, instead of keeping their eyes fixed on the covenant alone. While there was nothing but the covenant, they gazed upon it. But when God has established His throne in righteousness, He can turn towards the world and bless it according to that righteousness.
Commentators differ on how far the symbol reaches. The writers above see figures of God's own government. One writer sees the redeemed in service:
The two large cherubim in the Holiest of the Temple of Solomon represent, I believe, the ministry of all the redeemed in heaven. They were made of olive wood, wood that gives oil. That pictures the spiritual body serving in the power of the Spirit of God… The wings reach from wall to wall, meeting in the centre, over the mercy seat of the Lord.
- Measure. Ten cubits of wing on each cherub, twenty across the pair — the exact width of the most holy place, with nothing left over.
- Meaning. The cherub stands for God's judicial power, whoever He entrusts it to.
- Material. Olive wood overlaid with gold; two figures, not one, holding justice and grace in balance.
- Direction. These wings no longer hover over the covenant alone; the faces turn outward, toward the world.
- Result. Judgment measured by God's own standard is what frees His power to face outward in blessing.
and the other cherub was ten cubits both the cherubim were of one measure and one form.
This verse closes the description of two huge cherubim in the innermost room of Solomon's temple: the second matched the first in size and shape. Commentators ask why there were two, why they were identical, and why the exact measure matters.
These were a new, much larger pair. They stood alongside the small gold figures already on the ark of the covenant.
One of the most unique features of Solomon's temple was the great cherubim set up in the inner sanctuary, or Holy of Holies. They were in addition to the gold figures which were on the ark. The large cherubim were each ten cubits high (about fifteen feet), and each had two wings... So the breadth of the wings was the same as the height of the cherubim themselves.
What did such a figure stand for?
The cherubim have been well described as "God's judicial executive, whoever God entrusts it to, and however He displays it." They do not appear to be a distinct order in God's creation. They are symbolic figures instead. In His ways of government and judgement God sometimes uses angels and sometimes men. Whichever it may be, the instruments He employs would be God's cherubim for the moment.
Why two, and why the same size? One writer sees balance in the pair.
Also, in the inner sanctuary were two cherubim carved from olive wood. The olive is symbolic of Christ from whom the Spirit of God (the oil) is sent from the Father (John 15:26). These were also covered with gold... The cherubim symbolize the government of God. Since there were two, this reminds us of the perfect balance of God's government. It involves both justice and grace, and both matter just as much.
The wings spanned the holiest wall to wall. One writer draws the believer's peace straight out of that exact fit.
In the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work and overlaid them with gold. The greatest care is taken to show that the span of the cherubim's wings was the exact breadth of the holiest... Not one cubit short of the breadth of the holiest. Can anything give more solid peace than this: that the consuming judgement of God on sin was according to God's own measure of sin? Not our thought of sin, not our measure, but according to the divine presence — the twenty cubits of the holiest. He who was with God, and was God, He is the way; and He bore the divine judgement, according to what God is.
The older pair on the ark gazed down at the covenant inside it. The new pair stood upright and faced away, and commentators treat that change of direction as the heart of the picture.
The cherubim are emblems, as we have seen, of judicial power. These new ones had a new position (those belonging to the ark remained the same). The wing of one new cherub touched the wall of the house on one side, and the wing of the other touched the wall on the other side. They looked not towards the ark, but outwards. Now that righteousness reigns and is established, these symbols of God's power can look outwards in blessing. Their eyes are no longer fixed on the covenant alone. While there was nothing but the covenant, they gazed upon it. But now that God has established His throne in righteousness, He can turn towards the world to bless it according to that righteousness.
Commentators differ on what the pair stands for. One writer reads them as a picture of those God has redeemed.
I believe the two large cherubim in the holiest of Solomon's temple represent the ministry of all the redeemed in its heavenly exercise. They were made of olive wood, an oily wood. This is a type of the spiritual body, serving in the power of the Spirit of God. They were carved figures, shaped to the image of the risen Christ. They were overlaid with gold, as sharing in a glory which is divine... The wings reach from wall to wall, meeting in the centre, over the mercy seat of the Lord. The ministry of the redeemed in glory will be wide, with the mystery of redeeming love in Christ Jesus at its centre, filling all Heaven and continuing through all eternity.
- Measure named. The cherubim stand for God's judicial power — power He carries out sometimes through angels, sometimes through men.
- Measure matched. Two figures of the same height and form picture the even balance of God's government — justice and grace of equal weight.
- Measure of sin. The span of the wings reached the full width of the holiest, not a cubit short: God judged sin by His own measure, not by ours.
- Measure turned outward. The cherubim on the ark gazed at the covenant; this pair looks out, because God has established His throne in righteousness and can now turn to the world in blessing.
- Measure clothed in gold. Olive wood overlaid with gold pictures the Spirit's power joined to divine glory — though commentators differ over whether the pair stands for God's rule or for the redeemed serving in that glory.
The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so of the other cherub.
Two carved figures stand in the innermost room of Solomon's temple, and each one measures the same height. Why record that measurement twice? And why place these towering figures where God's presence rested?
The temple kept the old ark from the tabernacle, with its small golden cherubim. Something new stood on either side of it:
One of the most unique features of Solomon's Temple was the great cherubim in the Oracle, or Holy of Holies. They were in addition to the gold figures which were upon the ark. The ark was exactly the same in the Temple as in the Tabernacle, except for its contents. The large cherubim were each ten cubits high (about fifteen feet); and each had two wings... So the wings spanned as wide as the cherubim were tall. They touched the walls of the Oracle on either side, and they touched each other in the middle. They were made of olive wood, and were covered with gold.
The choice of wood carries meaning too:
The olive is a symbol of Christ, who sends the Spirit of God (the oil) from the Father (John 15:26). These were also covered with gold.
Commentators read the cherubim as symbols of God acting in judgment and government:
The cherubim have been well described as "God's judicial executive, to whoever it is entrusted, and in whatever circumstances it is displayed." They do not appear to be a separate order of beings God created. They are symbolic figures instead. In His ways of government and judgement God sometimes uses angels and sometimes men. Whichever it is, the instruments He uses would be God's cherubim for the moment.
In the earlier tent, those figures faced inward:
They looked toward what was hidden in the ark — the covenant of the law placed inside it, written on tables of stone. The cherubim, two in number, were witnesses of the contents of the ark (Matthew 18:16). At the same time they were attributes of the judicial power of God. These attributes made the covenant sure. God kept it faithfully on His side, through everything that marked Him in government. As long as the king stayed faithful on his side, God remained seated on His throne between the cherubim, keeping His part of the covenant made with His people.
Both figures rose to the same height. One writer reads that sameness as a picture of how God rules:
The cherubim symbolize the government of God. Since there were two, this reminds us of the perfect balance of God's government. That government involves both justice and grace, and both are equally important.
One commentator draws meaning from the number ten itself, writing about the ten-cubit boards of the earlier tent:
The boards were ten cubits high. Five is the number of human responsibility. Ten is twice five, which deepens the thought of responsibility toward God and responsibility toward man. Nowadays men do not like this thought, but there it is, despite what men may think. "So then each of us will give an account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12).
The altar of sacrifice rose to that same height:
It was twenty cubits square and ten cubits high (2 Chronicles 4). Its length and breadth matched the Holiest of all — the atonement is as wide as the holiness of God. Its height matched the cherubim, which stood ten cubits high, and whose wings met over the mercy seat.
These large figures faced away from the ark. One writer explains why that matters:
As we have seen, the cherubim are emblems of judicial power, and now they had a new position (those belonging to the ark stayed the same)... They did not look towards the ark, but outwards. Now that righteousness reigns and is established, these symbols of God's power can look outward in blessing, instead of keeping their eyes fixed on the covenant alone. While there was nothing but the covenant, they gazed on it. But now that God has established His throne in righteousness, He can turn towards the world to bless it according to that righteousness.
Commentators differ on what the figures picture. Most read them as symbols of God's own governing power. One sees the redeemed in them instead — a "type of the spiritual body, serving in the power of the Spirit of God" — pictured in their heavenly service (Various).
- Added. The temple kept the old ark and its small cherubim unchanged, and added two gold-covered olive-wood figures beside it, each ten cubits high.
- Judicial. A cherub stands for God's judicial power in action — not a species of creature, but a symbol of how He governs.
- Matched. Both figures rose to the same height — a picture of God's government, perfectly balanced between justice and grace.
- Measured. Ten is the number of human responsibility — and the altar of sacrifice rose to that same ten-cubit height.
- Outward. These cherubim faced away from the ark: with righteousness established, God's power can turn toward the world in blessing.
And he set the cherubim in the midst of the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth, so that the wing of the one touched the wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched, wing to wing, in the midst of the house.
Solomon set two huge gold-covered figures in the innermost room of the temple. Their wings reached from wall to wall and met in the middle. Why did God want this room filled, edge to edge, with these figures?
These were not the small pair on the ark's lid. They were a new addition, far larger than anything in the tabernacle.
One of the most unique features of Solomon's Temple was the great cherubim set up in the Oracle, or Holy of Holies. They were in addition to the gold figures which were upon the ark. The ark was exactly the same in the Temple as in the Tabernacle, except for what was inside it. The large cherubim were each ten cubits high (about fifteen feet); and each had two wings... So the width of the wings matched the height of the cherubim. They were made of olive wood and covered with gold.
("Oracle" is the old name for the inner room, the Most Holy Place.)
Commentators read these figures as a picture of how God rules and judges.
The cherubim have been well described as "God's judicial executive, whoever it is entrusted to, and in whatever circumstances it is displayed." They do not appear to be a separate order of creatures that God made. They are symbolic figures instead. In His ways of government and judgement God sometimes uses angels and sometimes men. Either way, the instruments He uses would be God's cherubim for the moment.
Two details carry meaning: the number of the figures, and the wood they were carved from.
The two cherubim in the inner sanctuary were carved from olive wood. The olive is a symbol of Christ, from whom the Spirit of God (the oil) is sent from the Father (John 15:26)... The cherubim symbolize the government of God. Since there were two, this reminds us of the perfect balance of God's government. It involves both justice and grace, which are equally important.
Each pair of wings spanned ten cubits. Two cherubim side by side filled the room's twenty-cubit width exactly. One writer draws real comfort from that.
The greatest care is taken to show that the span of the cherubim's wings was the exact breadth of the holiest place — not one cubit short. Can anything give more solid peace than this: that the consuming judgment of God on sin was according to God's own measure of sin? Not our thought of sin, not our measure, but the measure of God's own presence. Twenty cubits the length of the porch; twenty cubits the breadth of the holiest place; twenty cubits the span of the cherubim's wings. He who was with God, and was God, He is the way; and He bore the divine judgment, according to what God is.
In the tabernacle the cherubim on the ark looked inward, toward the covenant. Solomon's face the other way.
The cherubim are emblems, as we have seen, of judicial power. These ones had a new position, while those on the ark stayed as they were. The wing of one new cherub touched the wall of the house on one side, and the wing of the other cherub touched the wall on the other side. Their wings extended from one side of the house to the other. They did not look towards the ark; they looked outwards. At this time righteousness reigns and is established. So these symbols of God's power can look outwards in blessing, instead of keeping their eyes fixed on the covenant alone.
Kelly ties the outward look to what Solomon's reign pictures.
Solomon's day is a picture of the time of glory, when the true Man and Prince of Peace will rule. And why should they not look out then? Sin will have been judged... When mercy has had its full way, and judgment has been carried out, nothing will stop the cherubim from proclaiming the goodness of Jehovah.
The wings reach the walls, but a curtain still hangs between this room and everyone outside it. Blessing flows out; access does not yet flow in.
The attributes of God do not now look only at the covenant, to keep it despite everything. They also look outwards to bless... but the veil is here found again in the temple. Whatever the blessing of the true Solomon's reign may be, Israel and the earth do not have immediate and direct access to Him who is hidden in the heavens. That is our portion: to enter with boldness now through the veil, and to find no veil in heaven.
- Place — the two great cherubim stood in the innermost room, beside the unchanged ark and its own smaller pair.
- Power — a cherub pictures God's judicial authority in action. Two of them show His government in perfect balance: justice and grace.
- Measure — the wings filled the twenty-cubit room exactly. Judgment fell by God's measure of sin, not ours.
- Direction — the ark's cherubim stayed fixed on the covenant. These face outward, because where righteousness reigns God can turn to the world to bless it.
- Limit — the veil still hung. Blessing reached out, but direct access to God waited for what this temple only pictured.
And he overlaid the cherubim with gold.
This short line finishes the work on two huge carved figures in the innermost room of Solomon's temple, where the ark of the covenant rested. It raises two questions: why were they there, and why did gold have to cover every inch of them?
The cherubim of verse 28 are not the small gold figures that already stood on the ark. They were a new and far larger pair, made for the most holy place — called the oracle.
The great cherubim that stood in the Oracle, or Holy of Holies, were one of the most unusual features of Solomon's Temple. They were in addition to the gold figures on the ark... The large cherubim were each ten cubits high (about fifteen feet), and each had two wings... So the wings spread as wide as the cherubim were tall. They touched the walls of the Oracle on either side, and they touched each other in the middle. They were made of olive wood, and were covered with gold.
The ark's figures were gold. This new pair was wood beneath gold, and both the wood and the number carry meaning.
Also, in the inner sanctuary were two cherubim carved from olive wood. The olive is symbolic of Christ from whom the Spirit of God (the oil) is sent from the Father (Jn. 15:26). These were also covered with gold (v. 28)... The cherubim symbolize the government of God. Since there were two, this reminds us of the perfect balance of God's government. That government involves both justice and grace, and both matter equally.
The gold here is part of a pattern that runs through the whole building. It also sets a condition for anyone who comes near.
Finally, those who entered the temple to dwell with God saw nothing but divine righteousness all around them. Down to the very floor beneath their feet, all was covered. Man cannot dwell with God except according to divine righteousness. What is more, all the furnishings of the temple were either made of gold or overlaid with gold. The altar of incense, the cherubim, and the doors of the most holy place are examples.
The same gold covering pictures how a believer stands before God.
Everything, whether stones or trees, was overlaid with pure gold. "Pure gold" can picture only Jesus, the righteous one, the righteousness of God... Every tree and stone was overlaid with pure gold and hidden from sight — not a notch of the fir wood could be seen. There were also cherubim carved on the walls. We believe God, "who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." So righteousness is credited to us. As the pure gold covered the trees and stones, so Jesus has been raised from the dead to be our righteousness that always continues... As God looked in the temple He saw only the pure gold.
That leaves one more question: what is a cherub?
The cherubim have been well described as "God's judicial executive, whoever it is entrusted to, and in whatever circumstances it is shown." They do not appear to be a separate order in God's creation. They are symbolic figures instead. In His ways of government and judgement God sometimes uses angels and sometimes men. Whichever it may be, the instruments employed would be God's cherubim for the moment.
The small cherubim on the ark gazed at the covenant. This new pair faced the other way, and that change of direction marks a change of time.
As we have seen, the cherubim are emblems of judicial power, and these had a new position (the ones on the ark stayed the same)... They did not look towards the ark, but outwards. Now that righteousness reigns and is established, these symbols of God's power can look outwards in blessing. Their eyes are no longer fixed on the covenant alone. While there was nothing but the covenant, they gazed on it. But when God has established His throne in righteousness, He can turn towards the world to bless it according to that righteousness.
- Covered. The gold hides the olive wood, so whoever entered saw nothing but divine righteousness — floor, walls, figures and all.
- Counted. Two cherubim, not one, picture God's government held in perfect balance: justice and grace of equal weight.
- Credited. What the gold did for the wood, the risen Christ does for the believer. God credits righteousness and sees only the gold.
- Turned. These figures look out, not down at the covenant. Once God's throne stands in righteousness, His power faces the world in blessing.
- Reaching. The wings stretch from wall to wall. The righteousness that lets man dwell with God is the same righteousness that reaches out to bless.