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Translation
King James Version
And it was made with cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces;
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KJV (with Strong's)
And it was made H6213 with cherubims H3742 and palm trees H8561, so that a palm tree H8561 was between a cherub H3742 and a cherub H3742; and every cherub H3742 had two H8147 faces H6440;
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Complete Jewish Bible
consisting of k'ruvim and palm trees, with a palm tree between every two k'ruvim. Every keruv had two faces;
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Berean Standard Bible
were alternating carved cherubim and palm trees. Each cherub had two faces:
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American Standard Version
And it was made with cherubim and palm-trees; and a palm-tree was between cherub and cherub, and every cherub had two faces;
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World English Bible Messianic
It was made with cherubim and palm trees; and a palm tree was between cherub and cherub, and every cherub had two faces;
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Geneva Bible (1599)
And it was made with Cherubims and palme trees, so that a palme tree was betweene a Cherub and a Cherub: and euery Cherub had two faces.
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Young's Literal Translation
And it is made with cherubs and palm-trees, and a palm-tree is between cherub and cherub, and two faces are to the cherub;
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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Ezekiel 41:18 provides a precise description of the decorative elements adorning the walls of the visionary temple, specifically detailing an alternating pattern of cherubim and palm trees. It uniquely notes that these cherubim possess two faces. This meticulous architectural detail is integral to the broader blueprint of God's future dwelling, emphasizing the sacredness, divine order, and profound symbolic richness intended to convey theological truths about His holy presence and the flourishing life associated with Him.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Ezekiel 41:18 is situated within the extensive and highly detailed visionary account of a new temple, which spans from Ezekiel 40 through Ezekiel 48. This particular verse contributes to the description of the temple's inner sanctuary and its intricate decorative features, following the measurements of the outer and inner courts, gates, and various chambers (Ezekiel 40-41:17). The detailed carvings, such as the cherubim and palm trees, are not merely aesthetic embellishments but are deeply integrated into the theological symbolism of the structure. They anticipate the subsequent descriptions of the temple's functions and the glorious return of God's presence, vividly portrayed in Ezekiel 43. The narrative flow emphasizes the divine blueprint and the meticulousness of God's design for His dwelling.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The vision of this elaborate temple was granted to Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile, a period of profound national despair and spiritual desolation for the Jewish people, roughly between 593-571 BC. The destruction of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC had left the people feeling abandoned by God and without a central place of worship, severing their connection to their covenant identity. In this context of profound loss, Ezekiel's detailed vision served as a powerful message of hope, restoration, and God's unwavering covenant faithfulness. The temple's design, including its decorative motifs, would have resonated with familiar elements from Solomon's Temple (compare 1 Kings 6:29), providing a crucial sense of continuity with their sacred past while simultaneously presenting a distinct, idealized future reality. The emphasis on precise measurements and holy separation was paramount for a people whose previous temple had been defiled and ultimately destroyed.
  • Key Themes: Ezekiel 41:18 significantly contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Ezekiel and the broader temple vision. Firstly, it underscores the theme of divine presence and glory, as cherubim are consistently associated with God's throne, His immediate presence, and His mobile glory, as seen in the prophet's earlier, awe-inspiring visions in Ezekiel 1 and Ezekiel 10. Their inclusion in the very fabric of the temple signifies that this is indeed a place where God will once again dwell. Secondly, the presence of palm trees points to life, flourishing, and blessing, often symbolizing righteousness, prosperity, and vitality in biblical imagery (Psalm 92:12). The meticulous and ordered arrangement of these symbols highlights the theme of divine order and holiness, indicating that God's dwelling is characterized by perfection, purity, and intentional design. This vision ultimately serves as a powerful promise of restoration and future hope for Israel, assuring them of God's unwavering plan to re-establish His presence among them in a purified and glorious form.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • cherubims (Hebrew, kᵉrûwb', H3742): These are celestial beings of uncertain derivation, often depicted as winged, composite creatures, consistently associated with guarding sacred spaces and bearing or attending the divine presence. In biblical theology, cherubim appear at the entrance to the Garden of Eden after the fall (Genesis 3:24), as figures on the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:18-22), and prominently in Ezekiel's visionary descriptions of God's throne-chariot (Ezekiel 1:5-14). Their presence as decorative elements in the temple's fabric underscores its supreme sanctity and its role as the dwelling place of the Most High God.
  • palm trees (Hebrew, timmôr', H8561): Architecturally, this term refers to a palm-like pilaster or decorative motif. In ancient Near Eastern and biblical contexts, palm trees were potent symbols of fertility, prosperity, victory, and righteousness. Their inclusion alongside the cherubim suggests a motif of life, blessing, and the flourishing of God's people within the context of His holy presence. This imagery also connects to the decorative elements found in Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 6:29), establishing a continuity of sacred aesthetic and profound meaning.
  • faces (Hebrew, pânîym', H6440): This word literally refers to the "face" as the part that turns, but it is used in a great variety of applications, including presence, appearance, or countenance. In this specific context, it denotes the countenances of the cherubim. The detail that these cherubim had "two faces" is particularly noteworthy, as Ezekiel's earlier visions describe cherubim with four faces (Ezekiel 1:6, Ezekiel 10:14). This specific detail for the temple's decorative cherubim highlights a unique aspect of their representation within this sacred structure, perhaps signifying a specific focus or a dual aspect of their symbolic function within the temple's design.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And [it was] made with cherubims and palm trees": This initial clause establishes the primary decorative elements meticulously carved into the walls of the visionary temple. The verb "made" (H6213, ʻâsâh) implies a deliberate act of creation or fashioning, underscoring the intentionality, precision, and divine origin of the temple's design. The cherubim and palm trees are not mere aesthetic additions but integral components of the sacred architecture, each conveying profound theological meaning through its presence and placement.
  • "so that a palm tree [was] between a cherub and a cherub": This specifies the precise, alternating arrangement of the decorative motifs. The pattern of a palm tree flanked by two cherubim creates a profound sense of order, symmetry, and aesthetic harmony. This deliberate spacing and repetition contribute to the overall impression of divine design and the meticulous nature of God's dwelling place, where every detail is purposeful and contributes to the overarching symbolism of holiness and life.
  • "and [every] cherub had two faces": This is a unique and significant detail about the cherubim depicted within this specific temple vision. Unlike other biblical descriptions or Ezekiel's earlier visions of cherubim with multiple (often four) faces, these particular decorative cherubim are explicitly noted to possess only two. This particularity suggests a distinct symbolic emphasis within the temple context, possibly representing a dual aspect of their function, such as looking both inward toward the Holy of Holies and outward toward the worshiper, or signifying a specific attribute of God's presence as perceived within this sacred sanctuary.

Literary Devices

Ezekiel 41:18 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound meaning. Foremost is Symbolism: the cherubim are powerful symbols of divine presence, unapproachable holiness, and guardianship, consistently appearing where God's glory is manifest. Their inclusion here signifies the supreme sacredness of the temple as God's dwelling. The palm trees symbolize life, flourishing, righteousness, and victory, their presence alongside the cherubim suggesting a place where both divine majesty and abundant life reside. The phrase "a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub" is a clear example of Repetition and Patterning, creating a visual rhythm that emphasizes order, precision, and the deliberate, divine design of the sacred space. This meticulous detail also serves as vivid Imagery, allowing the reader to visualize the intricate and beautiful carvings that adorn the visionary temple, reinforcing its divine origin and purposeful construction. The specific detail of "two faces" for the cherubim, differing from Ezekiel's earlier visions and other biblical accounts, introduces a subtle Allusion to previous cherubim descriptions while simultaneously highlighting the unique and distinct characteristics of this particular temple vision, inviting deeper theological reflection.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Ezekiel 41:18, with its detailed description of cherubim and palm trees, powerfully communicates the nature of God's ideal dwelling place. The cherubim signify the unapproachable holiness, awesome glory, and vigilant guardianship of God, emphasizing that His presence demands profound reverence and purity. Simultaneously, the palm trees symbolize vibrant life, fruitfulness, and the abundant blessing that flows from being in God's presence. This striking juxtaposition suggests that while God is utterly holy and awe-inspiring, His presence also brings forth abundant life, prosperity, and spiritual vitality for those who dwell with Him. The meticulous order, symmetry, and beauty of these decorations underscore God's character as a God of order, perfection, and aesthetic delight, who designs His dwelling place with purposeful and profound detail. This vision serves as a profound theological statement about the restoration of God's presence among His people, not just in a physical structure, but in a way that brings both holiness and flourishing life.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

While Ezekiel's temple vision is a complex prophetic text, its decorative elements offer timeless spiritual insights for believers today. The pervasive presence of cherubim reminds us of the profound holiness and majestic otherness of God, calling us to approach Him with reverence, awe, and a deep sense of humility. We are reminded that God's presence is not to be taken lightly, and that purity and separation from sin are essential for true communion. Conversely, the palm trees symbolize the abundant life, spiritual fruitfulness, and profound peace that God desires for His people. This imagery encourages us to seek a life that is not only set apart and holy but also vibrant, productive, and blessed, bearing spiritual fruit as we abide in Him. The meticulous detail in the vision also speaks to God's care for order, beauty, and intentionality in all things, including the design of our own lives. As temples of the Holy Spirit, we are called to embody both the holiness and the fruitfulness depicted in this sacred architecture, reflecting God's glory in every aspect of our being. This vision inspires us to cultivate lives that are consecrated to God, yet also vibrant and life-giving to those around us, demonstrating the transformative power of His indwelling presence.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does the imagery of cherubim and palm trees in God's dwelling place challenge or affirm your current understanding of God's character?
  • In what practical ways can you cultivate both holiness (represented by the cherubim) and spiritual fruitfulness (symbolized by the palm trees) in your daily life?
  • What does the meticulous detail of the temple vision, including its decorations, teach you about God's regard for order and beauty in His creation and in our personal lives?

FAQ

What is the significance of the cherubim having "two faces" in Ezekiel 41:18, especially when other cherubim in Ezekiel have four?

Answer: The detail of the cherubim in Ezekiel 41:18 having "two faces" is indeed a specific and unique feature within this visionary temple description, standing in contrast to the four-faced cherubim described earlier in Ezekiel 1:6 and Ezekiel 10:14. While the exact symbolic meaning is subject to scholarly debate, several interpretations are commonly proposed. One prevalent view is that these are decorative cherubim, distinct from the living, mobile cherubim associated with God's throne-chariot. Their two faces might signify a specific focus relevant to the temple's architectural function, perhaps representing both the human and divine perspectives, or looking both inward to the sanctuary and outward to the worshiper. It could also emphasize a particular aspect of their guardianship or symbolic presence within the fixed, architectural context of the temple walls, rather than the comprehensive, all-encompassing nature of the cherubim associated with God's omnipresent glory and movement. This particularity highlights the deliberate and symbolic nature of every detail within Ezekiel's profound temple vision.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

While Ezekiel's temple vision provides a detailed blueprint for a future, idealized sanctuary, its ultimate fulfillment is found not in a physical structure, but profoundly in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The cherubim, ancient guardians of God's holy presence and the way to life, foreshadow the barrier of sin that separated humanity from God, a barrier decisively removed by Christ's atoning sacrifice. Jesus is the ultimate "way" to the Father, the new and living way that grants direct access to God's holy presence (John 14:6, Hebrews 10:19-20). The palm trees, symbolizing life, flourishing, and victory, find their fullest expression in Christ, who declared, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). He is the true vine, and believers, as branches, bear much fruit through their vital union with Him (John 15:5). Furthermore, the New Testament reveals that believers themselves, collectively and individually, are now the "temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19, Ephesians 2:20-22). In Christ, the unapproachable holiness signified by the cherubim and the abundant, flourishing life represented by the palm trees converge, as He makes us holy and enables us to bear the fruit of the Spirit, embodying the divine presence and life that the visionary temple symbolically represented.

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Commentary on Ezekiel 41 verses 12–26

Here is, 1. An account of a building that was before the separate place (that is, before the temple), at the end towards the west (Eze 41:12), which is here measured, and compared (Eze 41:13) with the measure of the house, and appears to be of equal dimensions with it. This stood in a court by itself, which is measured (Eze 41:15) and its galleries, or chambers belonging to it, its posts and windows, and the ornaments of them, Eze 41:15-17. But what use was to be made of this other building we are not told; perhaps, in this vision, it signified the setting up of a church among the Gentiles not inferior to the Jewish temple, but of quite another nature, and which should soon supersede it. 2. A description of the ornaments of the temple, and the other building. The walls on the inside from top to bottom were adorned with cherubim and palm-trees, placed alternately, as in Solomon's temple, Kg1 6:29. Each cherub is here said to have two faces, the face of a man towards the palm tree on one side and the face of a young lion towards the palm-tree on the other side, Eze 41:19. These seem to represent the angels, who have more than the wisdom of a man and the courage of a lion; and in both they have an eye to the palms of victory and triumph which are set before them, and which they are sure of in all their conflicts with the powers of darkness. And in the assemblies of the saints angels are in a special manner present, Co1 11:10. 3. A description of the posts of the doors both of the temple and of the sanctuary; they were squared (Eze 41:21), not round like pillars; and the appearance of the one was as the appearance of the other. In the tabernacle, and in Solomon's temple, the door of the sanctuary, or most holy, was narrower than that of the temple, but here it was fully as broad; for in gospel-times the way into the holiest of all is made more manifest than it was under the Old Testament (Heb 9:8) and therefore the door is wider. These doors are described, Eze 41:23, Eze 41:24. The temple and the sanctuary had each of them its door, and they were two-leaved, folding doors. 4. We have here the description of the altar of incense, here said to be an altar of wood, Eze 41:22. No mention is made of its being over-laid with gold; but surely it was intended to be so, else it would not bear the fire with which the incense was to be burned, unless we will suppose that it served only to put the censers upon. Or else it intimates that the incense to be offered in the gospel-temple shall be purely spiritual, and the fire spiritual, which will not consume an altar of wood. Therefore this altar is called a table. This is the table that is before the Lord. Here, as before, we find the altar turned into a table; for, the great sacrifice being now offered, that which we have to do is to feast upon the sacrifice at the Lord's table. 5. Here is the adorning of the doors and windows with palm-trees, that they might be of a piece with the walls of the house, Eze 41:25, Eze 41:26. Thus the living temples are adorned, not with gold, or silver, or costly array, but with the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 12–26. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Ezekiel
(Versed. 8 seqq.) 'And I saw in the house a height all around, with foundations of reed measuring six cubits, and the width along the outer wall of the side chamber, five cubits. And the inner part of the house and the space between the storehouses, twenty cubits wide all around the house. And there were doors in the side chambers toward the outer court, one door toward the north, and another door toward the south. And the width of the place for worship, five cubits all around.' And the building, which was separate and facing the road towards the sea, was seventy cubits wide. The wall of the building was five cubits wide all around, and its length was ninety cubits. After he reached the Holy of Holies, of which we spoke earlier, that venerable man measured the wall of the Holy of Holies. It had a height of six cubits because of the structure of the world and all visible creation, which was created in six days, and a width of one side of four cubits, not on one side only, but all around. But the width of the house, measured around, was four cubits, to represent the four elements from which all things are composed, especially human bodies. Against these, the holy ones fight and subject themselves to the power of the soul, so that they may deserve to enter the inner regions and know the secrets of the Lord. The sides of the house, which were around it and were separated from the walls of the temple by a space of four cubits, were joined together. So that one side touched another side, and it had a length not of thirty-three cubits, but of sixty-six, that is, sixty-six. In the book of Leviticus, it is said that after one week in the birth of a male child, the mother and the child must wait for thirty-three days in order to undergo purification (Lev. XII). However, if the child is female, the waiting period is doubled to sixty-six days. And because, in order to enter the holy of holies, we need not only the first birth, but also the second, to be born in the flesh and be reborn in the spirit: therefore, the number is not sixty-six, but twice thirty and three, so that both births are owed to God the creator and his mercy, and the two sides of the house that support the structure of the temple are enclosed by a double wall. And what follows according to the Hebrew: 'And there were certain heights that would go out through the wall of the house on the sides all around, to contain, and not touch the wall of the temple,' signifies this: that holy men, amidst the multitude of believers, burst forth through the wall of the temple, through all the sides all around, and uphold the foundations of the Church, and yet do not touch the wall of the temple: content with having seen only, and from afar, worship the indescribable mysteries. Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (1 Corinthians 13:12-13) But through the circular and spiral ascent we reach the upper room of the temple, which, among all shapes, is also approved by philosophers of this age as the most beautiful: for both the sky, the sun, the moon, and the other stars, and the earth, in human bodies as well, the eyes are like other stars, and the shape of the head, which is the receptacle of all the senses, and the rounded fingers, and women, and arms, exhibit this roundness. Moreover, I think that the upper room of the temple, which we ascend from the lower to the higher, is the same one that Elijah and Elisha had, as mentioned in the book of Kings, and also Tabitha had it in the Acts of the Apostles, which means 'the gazelle' in Greek, and our damsel who had reached the highest through good works (3 Kings 17; 4 Kings 4; Acts 9; Acts 10). But the Apostle Peter, on whom the Lord established the foundations of the Church, surpasses the upper room and comes to the roof, which is more significantly called 'dorma' in Greek, that is, the solarium of the roof, and he came to know the mysteries of the Church, previously unknown to the world. The Savior also made the Pasch in the upper room, and in a large and wide upper room, and after all impurity had been cleansed and the bed prepared, and the spiritual feast prepared, where he delivered the mystery of his body and blood to his disciples, and left to us the eternal celebration of the immaculate Lamb. And he added: And from the middle to the saddest, that is, the third upper room and Thrael, it seems to me that it should be marked with a note. For why do we need to discuss doubtful and unwritten things when we should devote ourselves to the books held by the Hebrews? It follows: 'And I saw in the house a height encompassed by sides, measured by a reed, a space of six cubits; and a width by the outer wall of the side of five cubits; and between the treasuries' (which Symmachus calls 'exedrae') 'a width of twenty cubits around the house.' By these measurements it is shown that we are deserving of ascending not only into the Holy of Holies, but also into their upper room, and that we should always remember that through the six days of our earthly condition, and through the five senses, and through the twenty cubits of width, we ascend to the upper room of the temple, leaving behind earthly humility and the sense of the letter, and we pass over to the summit of the Church, and rejoice in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.' And the entrance, he says, of the side toward the north (Jer. 1:14), from which evil spreads over all the earth, and which the Lord promises to drive away from us, saying: 'And I will drive away from you him who is from the north' (Joel 2:20). And it is a beautiful place for prayer at the entrance opposite the north, so that, according to the Apostle, we may pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5), and say with Jeremiah: 'Let not the apple of my eye be silent' (Lam. 2:18), whether we desire to avoid present evils or give thanks for the past. For as long as we are in the tent of this body, we groan and say: Wretched me, who will set me free from this body of death? (Rom. VII, 24). But there was also a door to the South, which had a place of prayer nearby according to the Hebrew custom, and it extended five cubits around. For after the cold of the North, we pass through the heat of the South, and yet we still seek a place for prayer, in the door of the North, in order to escape dangers; in the South, to give thanks for the past and to have a secure possession of victory. But five cubits, and in this place they indicate divine senses, through which we ascend from earthly things to higher things. And the building, he says, which was separated and turned toward the road facing the sea, was seventy cubits wide: so that after labors and dangers, and the waves and shipwrecks of this world, and seventy years, of which Jeremiah, Daniel, and Zechariah write (Jer. 25 and 29; Dan. 9, Zech. 9); but also the legitimate sabbath of seven decades we may attain: so that we may have eternal rest, and through the width of five cubits we may come to a length of ninety cubits: in which age Sarah gave birth to a son according to the promise, who, at the age of ninety, that is, at the end of nine decades, was born to Abraham, who was one hundred years old (Gen. 21), that is, having the mystery of ten decades. The following Scripture will show what the number signifies.

(Verses 13 and following) And the house was measured in length a hundred cubits. And the separate building, and its walls, were also a hundred cubits in length. The width before the face of the house, and that which was separate against the East, was a hundred cubits. And the length of the building over against the face thereof, which was separated at the back, was also a hundred cubits. And there were chambers exceeding in height on either side a hundred cubits; and the inner temple, and the porches of the court. Doorways and slanted windows were set outward, in a perimeter on three sides against the threshold of each, and a wooden floor went all the way around. And the earth was up to the windows: and the windows were closed. Above the doors, and up to the inner house; and on the outside, through every wall on the inside; and on the outside, to the measurement. And cherubs and palm trees were carved: and a palm tree was between cherub and cherub: and each cherub had two faces: the face of a man next to the palm tree on one side, and the face of a lion next to the palm tree on the other side; carved throughout the whole house on the inside. From the ground up to the upper gates, there were carved cherubim and palm trees on the wall of the temple. The threshold was square. The sanctuary faced the shape of the wooden altar, its height being three cubits. Its length was two cubits. Its corners, length, and walls were all made of wood. Seventy: It measured against the length of the house, one hundred cubits. And the remaining and separating walls, in the length of one hundred cubits. And the width against the face of the temple, and the remaining opposite one hundred cubits. And he measured the length of the separating wall facing the back of the house, and the remaining width of one hundred cubits. And the temple and the corners, and the outer Aelam covered with wood, and three windows made like a net, for light to shine through, that one could look through them. And the house and the adjacent structures, all covered with wood around. And the floor, and from the floor to the windows. And the windows were opened threefold, so that one could look through them: both into the inner and outer house, and through every wall around inside and outside the measurement, and carved cherubim, and palm trees between cherub and cherub. Two faces of cherub: the face of a man towards the palm tree on one side, and the face of a lion towards the palm tree on the other side: the entire wall was carved all around from the floor to the rafters with cherubim and carved palm trees. And the sanctuary and the temple were opened on four corners towards the face of the saints: a vision as if the appearance of a wooden altar: its height being three cubits, and its length two cubits: and its width two cubits: and it had horns, and its bases and walls were wooden.» The word 'contra', which the LXX translated at the beginning of the testimony, where it is written: 'And he measured against the house', is not found in Hebrew, and therefore it must be marked with an obelus, in order for it to be correct and true, and he measured the house with a length of one hundred cubits, and so on. The Holy of Holies and the inner sanctuary are described, which is said to have a perfect number of ten decades, after ninety cubits, with three sides having one hundred cubits each: so that we may serve the Lord with our mind, speech, and deeds, remembering that Apostolic example in which it is said: 'That we may know the breadth, and length, and depth, and height' (Ephesians 3:18). But what is said in Hebrew, the separate structure and its walls, the Septuagint translates as separating and not clinging to the walls of the temple, but having their own nearby walls. The temple itself, as well as its corners and the porch or entrance hall (propylon), were covered with wood, a symbol of wisdom, as the Scripture records the tree of life being located in paradise (Gen. II). The windows were made in the form of a net, similar to lattice screens, so that they were not covered with stone or glass, but with wooden lattices woven with twists and turns. In Hebrew, they have diagonal windows, which were only present in three parts of the temple: on the right, on the left, and at the back, that is, to the South, North, and West. The eastern part, however, did not have windows because the entrance itself let in bright light from within, and all the interior of the temple was filled with the light of the doors, so that someone could look inside through each window and opening. And not only were the exterior areas covered with wood, but there was such an abundance of wood all around that the floor and everything up to the windows were connected with wood. The windows were opened in three ways according to the Seventy, so that when they were opened, a triple understanding of God's temple would be revealed, according to what is said elsewhere: 'But you, write down these things in three ways' (Prov. 22:20). And through them, both the interior and the exterior are seen: so that we may know the invisible things that are within, and the visible things that are without; so that one thing may show the mind, another the flesh, another the spiritual understanding, and another the simple historical account; and through all the surrounding walls, internally and externally, their measurements were consistent. For nothing is done in the temple of God without reason and measure, especially in the holy of holies made by God. The Cherubim were also carved, no doubt in wood, extending from the floor to the windows, and the carvings were so finely made that they appeared not sculpted, but applied. Cherubim are interpreted as a multitude of knowledge. Therefore, within the innermost part of the temple, after the multitude of knowledge, there are carvings and palm trees, in which the sign of victory is, as the Apostle says: But I press on to the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God, in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). Which palms were between the Cherub and the Cherub, so that one Cherub was surrounded on both sides by two palms: which Cherub did not, as we read at the beginning of this prophet, have four faces, namely, of a man, a lion, a calf, and an eagle; but only two, that is, of a man and a lion, of which the first pertains to reason, and the second to fury, which is more significantly called θυμὸς in Greek. By fury, however, we mean not that which is close to disturbance and vice, but that which consolidates the softness of the mind and makes the soul of the combatant stronger. For in the beginning, we are subject to concupiscence, which pertains to the earthly works; and some are carnal, others are spiritual, of which the ultimate is attributed to eagles. But when we enter the innermost sanctuary, and possess the inner parts of the temple, we have no need for anything else except reason and strength, of which one pertains to perception and prudence, the other to the perseverance of the soul. Therefore, every wall around the temple, from the floor to the ceiling, had Cherubim and palms skillfully carved: after which the sanctuary and the temple were opened from the four corners opposite the faces of the holy ones. First, we have a multitude of knowledge, through which we achieve victory over the enemy, and then a sanctuary and temple are opened to us, which has four angles, and a very strong position, and which is inclined in no direction. For it has the nature of a square measure, so that it may stand on a stable base, and it possesses, in a mystical number that is clear to the wise reader, four elements from which all things consist, solid and everlasting. And they looked at everything opposite the face of the sanctuary: before which was the sanctuary, or in which was the image of the wooden altar three cubits high, and two cubits long, and two cubits wide, which together make seven cubits. This altar had horns; and both its bases and its walls, that is, its sides, were made of wood, in which the holy Scriptures mysteries, human speech cannot explain: how the altar, in which the fire was to be kindled, namely the incense offering, should suffer nothing from the fire, but, so to speak, becomes more pure through the fire. For just as the works of the saints, of which the Apostle writes, 'The work of each will be made manifest; for the Day will disclose it' (1 Corinthians 3:13), do not perish, but are made even more pure through fire, so too the wood of the altar, which is from the trees of paradise, is not consumed by nearby fire, but is made even more pure. It is not surprising to believe this about the sanctuary and the inner parts of the temple and the altar of incense, since even linen, which is a type of flax, or something with a similar appearance to linen, is found to be cleaner the more it is burned. Forgive, reader, the difficulty, and grant pardon to the impoverished understanding. For through slanted and net-like windows, which are always closed, we can barely allow our eye to enter into the inner chamber of our heart, so that all that we see, we see in shadow and in image, and with the Apostle, we cry out: O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments, and how unsearchable his ways (Rom. XI, 13)! And: Who has known the mind of God (Isaiah XL, 13), except the one who is the angel of great counsel, and who has the power to reveal worthy mysteries? And in Rome, they call the projections on the walls of dining rooms 'solaria,' or 'Meniana' from the one who first invented them, which some Greeks call 'exōstras.'
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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