The Cherubim: 1 Kings 6:23-27
Question
1 Kings 6:23-27 KJV – 23 And within the oracle he made two cherubims [of] olive tree, [each] ten cubits high.
24 And five cubits [was] the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other [were] ten cubits. 25 And the other cherub [was] ten cubits: both the cherubims [were] of one measure and one size. 26 The height of the one cherub [was] ten cubits, and so [was it] of the other cherub. 27 And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the [one] wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.
Trying to understand this correctly. According to this scripture these cherubim were in the Holy of Holies (?) in addition to the “Ark of the Covenant”.
two cherubim of wild olive wood, each 15 feet tall
placed them in the inner sanctuary (assume this was the Holy of Holies?)
The wingspan of each of the cherubim was 15 feet (Total wingspan of both 30 ft)
He placed them side by side in the inner sanctuary of the Temple
Their outspread wings reached from wall to wall
their inner wings touched at the center of the room
NOTE: I realize a cubit varies due to historical changes of that measurement but not really that much. I used a royal cubit because it was stated it was typically used in ancient construction.
Using a “Royal Cubit” 19.8 to 20.6 for the height of each cherub =
19.8” X 10 Cubits = 198” divided 12 = 16 ½ Feet Tall
Using a “Royal Cubit” 19.8 to 20.6 for one wing tip to tip of a cherub =
19.8” X 10 Cubits = 198” divided 12 = 16 ½ Feet X 2 cherubs = 33 feet wide for the wing span of both cherubs standing wing tip to wing tip
8 QUESTIONS????????
Do you agree these cherubim had to be approximately 16 ½ feet tall and both cherubs wings as they were standing side by side would be 33 ft?
If this is true wouldn’t these cherubs had to have been in the inner house in addition to the cherubs on the mercy seat of the “Ark of the Covenant”? I can’t imagine how the Ark of the Covenant could have been moved with cherubim of this size being part of it. How could the Jewish people been able to transport the “Ark of the Covenant” into battle marching (Jericho) or from place to place if the cherubim described here were on the Ark and not in addition to them in the inner room?
I “think” these cherubim had to be in the inner room in addition to the cherubim on “The Ark of the Covenant” but want your decision based on this scripture.
Is the inner room the Holy of Holies that was in the temple? I assume it is but want to be sure this is true.
1 Chronicles 28:18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out [their wings], and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
Note: If the cherubim in 1 Kings 6:23-27 KJV above were in addition to the Ark their wings would have covered the ark of the covenant also.
Why in this passage are the cherubim referenced as the pattern of “the chariot of the cherubim”? Isn’t this totally different and separate from the pattern of the ark?
1 Kings 8:7 KJV – 7 For the cherubims spread forth [their] two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.
Note: Doesn’t this passage state the cherubim wings in 1 Kings 6:23-27 KJV spread their wings over the place of the ark?
Exodus 25:20 NKJV – 20 “And the cherubim shall stretch out [their] wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim [shall be] toward the mercy seat.
Note: The cherubim for the mercy seat faced each other and were not stretched out wing tip to wing tip as the cherubim in 1 Kings 6:23-27 and this alone should prove that they are in addition to the pattern of the cherubim on the ark because they face in a different direction.
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Answers
The Cherubim being described in Kings are not the same Cherubim that were fabricated in the time of Moses. Those Cherubim sat on the Holy Ark and were made out of solid gold. The Cherubim in Kings were built by the artisans of King Solomon and they were very different. Firstly, they were not made out of solid gold they were made out of wood and covered in gold leaf. Secondly, they were enormous. They were approximately twenty feet high and their wing span was the entire width of the Inner Sanctum. The Talmud teaches, Tractate Bava Batra 99a, that the width of the bodies of the Cherubim was not included in the measurements as they miraculously did not occupy any space at all. They sat on the floor of the Inner Sanctum facing east toward the Sanctuary.
As with the other utensils that were not found in the original Tabernacle, the Cherubim were added because of the prophetic instructions that King Solomon received from his father King David.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team