Introduction
The man clothed in linen had completed his God-assigned task of marking the faithful for salvation (9:11). It was time for the six executioners to expand their work from the court of the temple to the rest of Jerusalem.
Yet in all of ch 10, these agents of God are not mentioned. They disappeared from the scene. Only the man clothed in linen remained. To this beneficent character, however, a new role was assigned. He now became the agent of fiery judgment. Jerusalem was to be destroyed by sword and by fire. These two aspects of the judgment are successively portrayed to the prophet in chs 9-10.
Cherubim
The cherubim are assigned a variety of roles in the Old Testament. They first appear in connection with the Garden of Eden where they guarded the entrance to the tree of life (Gen 3:24).
In Solomon’s temple, they served as symbolic guardians of the holy of holies (1 Kgs 6:23). They were depicted on the lid of the ark of the covenant with their heads bowed and their faces looking downward toward the mercy seat as if in silent adoration (Exod 25:18-20). Ezekiel sees the cherubim in their traditional role as guardians. They protect access to the Holy fire.
In a number of passages, the Lord is described as being enthroned on (or above) the cherubim. In at least one passage, God is said to ride on a cherub (Psalm 18:10).
Then I looked and behold, in the firmament that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared above them something looking like a sapphire stone, in form resembling a throne. (Ezekiel 10:1)
This is very much like the function performed by cherubim in Ezekiel’s vision where these heavenly beings bear up the throne of God and provide locomotion for the entire throne-chariot.
And [the Lord] spoke to the man clothed in linen and said, Go in among the whirling wheels under the cherubim; fill your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim and scatter them over the city. And he went in before my eyes. (Ezekiel 10:2)
The man in linen garb was instructed to go into the midst of the wheels of the throne-chariot and pick up with both hands the hot coals that he found there (1:13).
Hot coals apparently symbolize judgment. That both hands are to be employed in the task points to the severity of the anticipated judgment. The agent was to scatter the coals over the wicked city of Jerusalem.
As the vision continued, Ezekiel actually saw the linen-clad man begin to carry out those instructions. The symbolic import of this part of the vision is obvious. The judgmental fire that was to fall on Jerusalem will come from the Holy One of Israel.
The tragic theology of the day denied that God could ever turn against the city where he was enthroned between the cherubim. The Babylonian exiles could not (or would not) listen to Ezekiel. Desperately the prophet proclaimed the incredible truth that Yahweh will purge Jerusalem.
Six years later, when Jerusalem received that awful baptism of fire, only a few recognized it as being the fire of God. Those few had been prepared by the preaching of men like Ezekiel.
And a cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took some of it and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and went out. (Ezekiel 10:7)
The man clothed in linen was authorized to judge and execute judgment. This visionary and symbolic representation of the burning of Jerusalem found fulfillment in 586 B.C.
And I looked and behold, there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside one cherub and another wheel beside another cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like sparkling chrysolite. And as for their appearance, they four looked alike, as if a wheel had been within a wheel. When they went, they went in any one of the four directions [in which their four individual faces were turned]; they did not turn as they went, but to the place to which the front wheel faced the others followed; they turned not as they went. And their whole body, their backs, their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes roundabout, even the wheels that each had. As regarding the wheels [attached to them], they were called in my hearing the whirling wheels. (Ezekiel 10:9-13)
The Hebrew word for wheel is galgal
Literally means ‘wheel, whirl and whirlwind’
These verses describe to us the throne chariot of God. Multiplied eyes are here, as always in Scripture, symbolic of omniscience. The elaborate wheels were identified in the hearing of Ezekiel as being the chariot (haggalgal)
And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. And the cherubim mounted upward. This is the [same] living creature [the four regarded as one] that I saw by the river Chebar [in Babylonia]. And when the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the wheels did not turn from beside them. When those stood still, these stood still; and when those mounted up, these [the wheels] mounted up also, for the spirit of life was in these [wheels]. (Ezekiel 10:14-17)
Three of the faces are the same as those seen in ch 1— the man, the lion, and the eagle. The face of the ox (1:10), however, is now described as the face of the cherub .
In chapter 1 this face was third in order; here it is first. The ox-like face that looked straight forward is thus assumed to be the primary or real face of each cherub
Beginning of the departure (10:18): The glory of the LORD went out from over the threshold of the house and stood over the cherubim. The throne-chariot was ready for the heavenly rider. The glory-cloud took its place again upon that throne.
Route of the departure (10:19): The cherubim lifted their wings. They went up from the earth in my presence. When they went out, the wheels were beside them. It stood at the entrance of the eastern gate of the house of the LORD.
The glory of the God of Israel was over them above. The departure route was by way of the eastern gate of the temple, where for a time the throne-chariot stood. The eastern gate was the most important gate since it faced the front of the temple.
The temporary stand at the eastern exit has no further significance other than to dramatize the divine departure. The departure clears the way for the destruction of the city. Through this same gate, Ezekiel will later see the glory of the Lord return to his temple (43:4).
Chapters
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 13
- Chapter 14
- Chapter 15
- Chapter 16
- Chapter 17
- Chapter 21
- Chapter 22
- Chapter 26
- Chapter 27
- Chapter 29
- Chapter 30
- Chapter 31
- Chapter 32
- Chapter 33
- Chapter 34
- Chapter 35
- Chapter 36
- Chapter 37
- Chapter 38
- Chapter 47
- Chapter 48