Ezekiel 10

The vision of the cherubiins, which the prophet saw at the. beginning of this prophecy, is here renewed; frpm whence coals arc scattered over the city to denote its destruction by fire. At the end of the chapter the Divine Glory is described as still removing farther from the temple.

Ezekiel 10:1

JLN the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims, &c. See the note on i. 26. As the appearance of the likeness of a throne.’] And God sitting upon it. (Ibid.)

Ezekiel 10:2

Go in between the wheels, even under the cherubims. Or, between the cherubims, as Noldius translates the phrase, numb. 3. 98. according to the explication given of it, ver. 7. And fill thine hand with coals of fire from bettceeh the cherubims, andscaUer them over the city.] For the coals of fire sparkled and ran up and down between the living creatures. (See i. 13.) This part of the vision was to represent the burning of the city. Coals of fire do elsewhere denote the Divine vengeance. (See Psal. cxx. 4. cxl. 10. Rev. viii. 5.)

Ezekiel 10:3

Now the cherubims stood on the light side of the house. The cherubims which were part of the vision shewed to Ezekiel: (see ver. 1. and the note upon ix. 3.) they stood now in the inner court, on the north side of the house. (See ver. 18.) The Chaldee paraphrase understands it of the south side of the house; but then it is spoken with respect to those that came out of the temple. (See xlvii. 1.) And the cloud filled the inner court.] This bright cloud seems to be an attendant upon that glory which was represented in this vision to Ezekiel: (viii. 4. x. 1.) or else the words may be understood of the cloud or Schechinah, removing from the inner sanctuary, and coming towards the door of the house. (See the following verse.)

Ezekiel 10:4

The glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, &c. The words may better be translated thus, Now (or for) the glory of the Lord was gone up, &c. For the prophet repeats here what he had related before, ix. 3. And the house was filled with the cloud, and the court zvas full of the brightness of the Lord’s glory.] A bright cloud was the sign of God’s presence, which first filled the tabernacle, (Exod. xl. 35.) afterward the temple, (1 Kings viii. 10.) where it fixed itself upon the mercy-seat, (Lev. xvi.2.) From whence God is said so often to dwell between the cherubims. This glory now removed from that its residence in the inner sanctuary, and came down towards the porch’ of the temple, and fixed itself partly in the temple, and partly in the inner court adjoining to it, to denote God’s being just about to leave the temple, and disown any relation to it. (See the note on viii. 3.) The Schechinah, or Divine Glory, is represented as a bright flame breaking out of a thick cloud: (see the note on Isa. vi. 1.) so both together make up the description of it.

Ezekiel 10:5

And the sound of the cherubims’ wings ivas heard even to the utter court, &c. See i. 21. The cherubims in Ezekiel’s vision seem to have moved to attend upon the Schechinah, which now had took its residence.at the threshold of the house. (Compare ver. 18, 19. xi. 22.)

Ezekiel 10:7

Wlio took it, and went out. To signify the putting the command in execution.

Ezekiel 10:8

And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a mans hand. See i. 8.

Ezekiel 10:9

] The same, in substance, which was described i. 10 — 18.

Ezekiel 10:11

To the place where the head looked they followed it. Each wheel consisted of four semicircles, (see the note on i. 16, 17.) in correspondence to the four heads of each animal.

Ezekiel 10:13

It was cried to them in my hearing, O wheels. Or, move round, as some render the woTd. They are put in mind of continually attending upon their duty; for the wheels and living creatures were animated with the same principle of understanding and motion. (Seei. 19— 21.)

Ezekiel 10:14

And every one had four faces, &c. See i. 6. 10. TJie first had the face of a cherub.] That is, of an ox; as appears by comparing this verse with chap. i. 10. The word cherub does originally signify an ox. -(See. Dr. Spencer, deLegib.Hebr. lib.iii. cap. 3. sect. 1.) The several faces are here represented in a different order from the description given of them i. 10. of which difference this reason may be assigned. In the first chapter the prophet saw this vision coming out of the north, and advancing southward, (ver. 4.) where the face of a man, being placed on the south side, was first in view. The lion, being on the east part, was towards his right hand; the ox, being placed towards the west, was on his left; and the eagle was towards the north. This interpretation is justified from the situation of the standards of the several tribes, Numb. ii. 2.10. 18. 25. where Judah, whose standard was a lion, was placed on the east side: Reuben, whose standard was a man, was placed on the south side: Ephraim, whose standard was an ox, was placed on the west side: and Dan, whose standard was an eagle, was placed on the north side. (See the note upon i. 6.) Here the prophet is supposed to stand by the porch of the temple, (see viii. 16.) westward of the Schechinah, as that was moving out of the inner court eastward; (see ver. 18, 19.) so the ox was first in his view, as being nearest to him.

Ezekiel 10:15

And the cherubims were lifted up. To attend upon the Divine glory wherever it went, and particularly at its removal from the temple. (See ver. 5. 19.) •

Ezekiel 10:18

T/ien the glory of the Lord departed from off the.threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. The Diviue presence here makes a farther remove from the temple. (See ver. 4.) It now quite leaves the house itself, and settles upon the cherubims which stood in the court adjoining it: (ver. 3.) ^

Ezekiel 10:19

The cherubims lifted up their wings— the wheels also were beside them. See i. 19. 26. And every one of them stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord’s house.] This is still a farther remove of God’s presence from the temple; for the east gate was just at the entrance into the inner court before the temple. (Sce;the note on viii. 7. and compare xliii. 4.)

Ezekiel 10:20

Tins is the likeness of the living creatures that I saw under the God of Israel, &c. See i. 22, 23. 26. And I knew that they were the cherubims.] Having often seen that form, which was carved in several places upon the walls, and doors, and utensils, of the temple. (1 Kings* vi. 29.35. viii. 29. 36.)