Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Job Wei <h9398374 AT hkstar.com>]

Cherubim are not angels but mythic winged sphinx-like creatures, they
appeared on ivory panels from the Omri dynasty found in Samaria, as well as
a cultic (Yahwistic) terracotta.  Possibly at the time Gen 3:24 was written,
a gigantic pair was inside the holy of holies of the Solomonic Temple in
Jerusalem.  The exalted wings of the pair join each other and define the
space underneath as sacred.  Inside the space is the Ark which has a pair of
smaller cherbim.  The function of these creatures (always in pair) seems to
be to protect, to guard, same as lions at the entrance of some modern or
ancient buildings.

Malachim are messangers and could be regarded as angelic.

Rgds,

Wei C F
Hong Kong

At 15:02 05/01/2000 -0500, you wrote:
>Dear list,
>
>Could someone please explain why several translations have used angels,
angelic/
>heavenly beings etc. for "Cherubim" in Gen 3:24?
>
>What does Cherubim actually means?
>If Cherubim means angel or angelic beings than what's "Malach"?
>Some passages in the Bible describes little more about "Cherubim" such as
>Jeremiah, but what did people (esp. Isrealites) think about these "Cherubims"
>before those passages? How do you differ between Cherubim & Malachim?
>Are there any historical comments on "Cherubim"?
>
>
>SHALOM,
>
>Yousaf.