Connecting With Jesus

Temple Cherubim

Were there two sets of cherubim in the temple?

“The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits in overall length: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, touching the wall of the room, and the other wing was five cubits, touching the wing of the other cherub; one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, touching the wall of the room, and the other wing also was five cubits, touching the wing of the other cherub” (2 Chronicles 3:11, 12).

The Bible says that the cherubim inside the most holy place of the tabernacle were on top of the ark, facing toward the center with their faces down and their wings over it. When Solomon rebuilt the temple, he put in a set of cherubim with wingspans of five cubits (2 Chronicles 3:11, 12). Were there two sets of cherubim in the temple when Solomon finished rebuilding it?

When the Lord instructed Moses to make the first tabernacle, it was made small and simple so as to be portable enough to carry it through the wilderness desert and into the Promised Land. When Solomon built the permanent temple in Jerusalem, the cherubim in the holy of holies were made larger, with wings that stretched completely over the ark.

The Bible doesn’t mention a second set of cherubim like the ones atop the ark of the covenant. How ever, angels were depicted throughout the structure-woven into the veil (verse 14) and engraved in solid gold plating on the walls (v.7) and temple doors (1 Kings 6:31-35)-all to represent the very real angels that continually surround God’s heavenly throne. The two angels that stand by the throne of God are the covering cherubs, and these special beings were symbolized in the earthly temple as the angels standing over the ark. These two cherubim are by no means the only angels in heaven.

Daniel 7:10 tells us about a “thousand thousands” ministering to God and 10,000 times 10,000 standing before Him. The prophet Daniel saw these ministering spirits surrounding the dwelling place of God. The golden cherubs in the temple were miniature models to help us picture the dwelling place of our God in heaven.

Dear Father, help me to reverence you as your holy angels do. May I always bow before you in awe and gratitude.

For Further Study: Daniel 7:9, 10; Isaiah 6:1-4

Daniel 7:9-10 KJV
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. [10] A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

Isaiah 6:1-4 KJV
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. [2] Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. [3] And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. [4] And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.