Page 89 - Foundations

cherubim were of the same measure and the same form. The height of the one cherub was ten cubits,
and so was the other cherub. And he placed the cherubim in the midst of the inner house, and the
wings of the cherubim were spread out, so that the wing of the one was touching the one wall, and
the wing of the other cherub was touching the other wall. So their wings were touching each other in
the center of the house. He also overlaid the cherubim with gold. Then he carved all the walls of the
house round about with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, inner and outer
sanctuaries. And he overlaid the floor of the house with gold, inner and outer sanctuaries. And for the
entrance of the inner sanctuary he made doors of olive wood, the lintel and five-sided doorposts. So
he made two doors of olive wood, and he carved on them carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open
flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread the gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees.

The cherubim in the Holy of Holies were approximately fifteen feet high and their combined
wingspan was thirty feet. Overlaid in pure gold, they were truly magnificent and awe inspiring to
behold. We get an idea of the glorious appearance of these created beings as we read the description
set forth by the prophet Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 28:12-18
“Thus says Yahweh God, ‘You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You
were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz, and
the diamond; The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; And
the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you. On the day that you were created
they were prepared. You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I placed you there. You were on
the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire. You were blameless in your
ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you. By the abundance of
your trade (slander - Hebrew rakal) you were internally filled with violence, and you sinned;
Therefore I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God. And I have destroyed you, O
covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;
You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I put you before
kings, that they may see you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade
(slander - Hebrew rakal), you profaned your sanctuaries. Therefore I have brought fire from the midst
of you; It has consumed you, and I have turned you to ashes on the earth in the eyes of all who see
you.’”

This passage is traditionally understood to be a description of Satan in his heavenly office as an
anointed cherub who covers. The passage mentions him in association with sanctuaries even as we
see the cherubim in the Tabernacle of Moses and in Solomon’s Temple standing in their sanctuaries
(literally - a holy place). For this being to be described in a heavenly setting among the holy angels
as having a visage of great beauty and splendor reveals what a truly remarkable sight that he was. Yet,
the very glory that adorned him became the cause of his downfall as conceit and pride began to take
over his heart.

I Timothy 3:2-6
An overseer, then, must be above reproach,... and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and
fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.