1 Then I looked, and see, in the expanse that was over the head of the cherubim there appeared above them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. 2 He spoke to the man clothed in linen, and said, Go in between the whirling (wheels), even under the cherub, and fill both your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city. He went in as I watched. 3 Now the cherubim stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court. 4 The glory of Yahweh mounted up from the cherub, (and stood) over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of Yahweh's glory. 5 The sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of God Almighty when he speaks. 6 It came to pass, when he commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim, that he went in, and stood beside a wheel. 7 The cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took (of it), and put it into the hands of him who was clothed in linen, who took it and went out. 8 There appeared in the cherubim the form of a man's hand under their wings. 9 I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside one cherub, and another wheel beside another cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like a beryl stone. 10 As for their appearance, the four of them had one likeness, like a wheel within a wheel. 11 When they went, they went in their four directions: they didn't turn as they went, but to the place where the head looked they followed it; they didn't turn as they went. 12 Their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes all around, (even) the wheels that the four of them had. 13 As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing, the whirling (wheels). 14 Every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third face the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. 15 The cherubim mounted up: this is the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar. 16 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 also didn't turn from beside them. 17 When they stood, these stood; and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them: for the spirit of the living creature was in them. 18 The glory of Yahweh went forth from over the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. 19 The cherubim lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight when they went forth, and the wheels beside them: and they stood at the door of the east gate of Yahweh's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. 20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim. 21 Every one had four faces, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. 22 As for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I saw by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves; they went every one straight forward.
The same august vision which appeared to the prophet at first, is repeated here; and coals of fire are scattered over the city to intimate that it was to be burned. The symbol of the Divine presence is likewise represented as removing farther and farther from the temple, to signify that God's protection was about to be withdrawn from it, vv. 1-22. It may not be improper to remark, that whatever is particularly intended by the cherubim, wheels, firmament, throne, etc., described in this and the first chapter, the prophet several times informs us (Ezekiel 1:28; Ezekiel 3:25; Ezekiel 8:4; Ezekiel 10:4, Ezekiel 10:18), that his vision was a manifestation or similitude of the Glory of Jehovah; or, in other words, consisted of a set of hieroglyphics by which this glory was in some measure represented. It is also worthy of observation, that the faces of the living creatures, of which we have an account in the fourth chapter of the Apocalypse, are precisely the same with those of Ezekiel's cherubim; and we nay readily collect, as Mr. Mede remarks, the quarter of the heavens in which each cherub was situated in reference to the other three, from the consideration that as Ezekiel saw the vision proceeding from the North, (see Ezekiel 1:4, Ezekiel 1:10), the human face of the cherubim was towards him, or the south; on his right hand, or the east, was the face of a lion; on his left hand, or the west, the face of an ox; and towards the north, the face of an eagle.
INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 10
In this chapter is a vision, very much like that in the first chapter, with some difference, and with a different view, the design of it being to represent the wrath of God against Jerusalem, and his departure from the city and temple. A throne much like that in Ezekiel 1:26 is described, Ezekiel 10:1; orders are given from it to scatter coals over the city, Ezekiel 10:2; the situation of the cherubim when these orders were given, Ezekiel 10:3; the removal of the glory of the Lord from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the consequences of it; the house filled with smoke; the court with the brightness of the Lord's glory; and the sound of the cherubim's wings heard to the outer court, as the voice of God, Ezekiel 10:4; the orders of taking and scattering fire over the city executed, and the manner in which they were, Ezekiel 10:6; a description of the cherubim and the wheels, much like that in the first chapter, Ezekiel 10:8; the departure of the glory of God from the threshold to the east gate of the Lord's house, with the motion of the cherubim and wheels along with him, Ezekiel 10:18; and the chapter is concluded with observing, that the cherubim are the same with the living creatures seen in the vision of the first chapter, and had the same form, likeness, and motion, Ezekiel 10:20.
(Ezekiel 10:1-7) A vision of the burning of the city.
(Ezekiel 10:8-22) The Divine glory departing from the temple.
Burning of Jerusalem, and Withdrawal of the Glory of Jehovah from the Sanctuary
This chapter divides itself into two sections. In Ezekiel 10:1-8 the prophet is shown how Jerusalem is to be burned with fire. In Ezekiel 10:9-22 he is shown how Jehovah will forsake His temple.
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