Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Walter R. Mattfeld" <mattfeld AT pjsnet.com>]

Although Ezekiel's vision of cherubim moving under a throne and its
firmament is attested in bas-reliefs of the Neo-Assyrian period, as noted in
an earlier post, it is still possible to posit the notion that the cherubim
acting as "armrests" - if I am understanding Ex.37:7-9 correctly-  are in
fact providing the locomotion.  I note that some Phoenician bas-reliefs
portray the winged sphinxes/cherubs' legs as standing at attention, implying
no movement, while other iconic representations portray the sphinxes' legs
in a "striding action," suggesting the illusion of locomotion. Under this
iconic representation, Yahweh seated upon the "moving" cherubim, would
perhaps be based on a notion that the throne possesses magical powers, it is
not just a piece of furniture-it is alive- and the throne's legs are the
striding legs of the cherubim/sphinxes, providing locomotion through the
heavens.

Under no circumstances should one entertain the notion Yahweh is actually
sitting with his legs astride the backs of the cherubim, because this would
be rather awkward, and such a representation is unknown in ANE art forms.
When gods are being moved about by beasts associated with them, mythical or
non-mythical, they are invariably portrayed as standing upon or over the
beast's back, not sitting directly on the animal. So, to say Yahweh is
seated over the cherubim suggests he is either on a seat that rests on the
cherubim's backs, or that his throne possesses "magical properties of life,"
that is, the throne is alive, and the throne's legs, being cherub's legs,
has the power of locomotion.

It is said Yahweh rode upon a cherub and flew on the "wings of the wind" ( 2
Sam. 22:11, Ps. 18:10). It was imagined in ANE religious thought that
invisible mythical beasts' possessed wings whose movement created the
earth's winds. In Mesopotamian myths Adapa broke the South wind's wing in a
fit of anger, causing that wind not to appear on earth, an act which upset
the supreme god Anu. A bronze statue of the South wind, called Pazuzu,
reveals this wind-creating creature with a human body, human legs, arms,
hands, a lion head, talon feet, and possessing "four wings" like Ezekiel's
cherubim. The Egyptians also had the notion that wind was created from the
movement of a mythical creature's wings. E.A. Wallis Budge shows drawings of
the north, south, west and east winds as multi-winged humanoid creatures
with animal heads, each possessing "four wings" like Ezekiel's cherubim. So,
Ezekiel's notion of cherubim having "four wings" and human forms, that is:
human a torso, legs, arms, hands, and a beasts' face, with feet terminating
in animal forms, plus Psalm's notation that a cherub's wings produce winds,
are in alignment with and reflect ANE myths and religious beliefs.

Of course, modern 21st century man knows that an invisible mythical
creature's fluttering wings are not the source of the earth's winds, but
ancient man knew of no better way to explain this phenomena.

All the best,

Walter Reinhold Warttig Mattfeld
Walldorf by Heidelberg
Baden Wurttemburg
Germany