Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear Kevin,

> > HH: Have you checked 1 Kings 6:23-28? There is no
> > description of a throne 10 cubits by 10 cubits.
> > The 10 cubits describes an image of a cherub and
> > its wing span.
>
> Right, which tells us everything we need to know 
> about the throne. You do realize, of course, 
> that the cherubim were understood as part of the 
> throne, having one on each end?

HH: There is no mention of a throne in the 
passage. They are self-standing cherubim that 
span the width of the room in which they stand.

> "Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at 
> the other end...There I will meet with you; and 
> from above the mercy seat, from between the two 
> cherubim which are upon the ark of the 
> testimony, I will speak to you about all that I 
> will give you in commandment for the sons of 
> Israel." (Ex 25:19,22)

HH: But this passage is talking about the 
cherubim for the mercyseat in the tabernacle. The 
dimensions of the mercyseat of the tabernacle 
were small, as Peter has already said.

> "The LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim."(I Samuel 4:4)
>
> There are more if you need them.

HH: But there is no giant throne anywhere. There 
are two large self-standing cherubim in the 
temple. The cherubim for the tabernacle were 
small according to all models I have seen. And 
Solomon evidently put the ancient ark into the 
temple:

1Kings 6:19 ¶ He prepared the inner sanctuary 
within the temple to set the ark of the covenant 
of the LORD there.

HH: So all you are talking about is two large 
decorative cherubim that point to the throne of 
God in heaven.

HH: There are passages about the Lord being enthroned in Zion:

Psa. 9:11 Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in 
Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.

HH: But it is understood that the temple is 
symbolic of heaven. The physical dimensions of 
the cherubim and ark do not have any automatic 
signification.

HH: It is interesting, however, that Isaiah in 
his vision sees the train of the Lord's robe 
filling the temple.

Is. 6:1 ¶ In the year that King Uzziah died, I 
saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and 
exalted, and the train of his robe filled the 
temple.

HH; Since the Lord fills heaven and earth, one 
would expect that a vision of Him would be 
imposing.

                                Yours,
                                Harold Holmyard