The Glory Departs From the Temple Ezekiel 10:1-22biblestudyworkshop.com/download/old/ezekiel/Ezekiel...

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The Glory Departs From the Temple

Ezekiel 10:1-22



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The Glory Departs From the Temple

Text:

Ezekiel 10:1-22,

1. I looked, and I saw the likeness of a throne of sapphire above the

expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim.

2. The Lord said to the man clothed in linen, “Go in among the

wheels beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals

from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I

watched, he went in.

3. Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple

when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court.

4. Then the glory of the Lord rose from above the cherubim and

moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple,

and the court was full of the radiance of the glory of the Lord.

5. The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far

away as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he

speaks.

6. When the Lord commanded the man in linen, “Take fire from

among the wheels, from among the cherubim,” the man went in and

stood beside a wheel.

7. Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand to the fire that

was among them. He took up some of it and put it into the hands of

the man in linen, who took it and went out.



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8. (Under the wings of the cherubim could be seen what looked like

the hands of a man.)

9. I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside

each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like chrysolite.

10. As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike; each was

like a wheel intersecting a wheel.

11. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions

the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about as the cherubim

went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced,

without turning as they went.

12. Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their

wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels.

13. I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.”

14. Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a

cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and

the fourth the face of an eagle.

15. Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures

I had seen by the Kebar River.

16. When the cherubim moved, the wheels beside them moved; and

when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the

wheels did not leave their side.

17. When the cherubim stood still, they also stood still; and when the

cherubim rose, they rose with them, because the spirit of the living

creatures was in them.



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18. Then the glory of the Lord departed from over the threshold of

the temple and stopped above the cherubim.

19. While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from

the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them. They

stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the

glory of the God of Israel was above them.

20. These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of

Israel by the Kebar River, and I realized that they were cherubim.

21. Each had four faces and four wings, and under their wings was

what looked like the hands of a man.

22. Their faces had the same appearance as those I had seen by the

Kebar River. Each one went straight ahead. (NIV 1984)

Introduction:

I. Fredenburg wrote, “The presence of the cherubim and glory of

Yahweh encountered in chapter 1 dominate the vision of chapter 10.”

A. Fredenburg explained, “Differences between the two

descriptions are explainable by the distinct nature of the two

visions.”

1. “The first was overwhelming, frantic, and unexpected.”

2. “The atmosphere of chapter 10, while no less awesome

than chapter 1, is more coherent, orderly, and reflective.”

II. Ezekiel 8-11 describes the departure of the presence of God from the

apostate capitol of Jerusalem, from the temple and from Judah. (See

Coffman.)



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A. Chapter 10:1-8 prophesies the burning of Jerusalem while

verses 9-22 show preparations for the withdrawal of God’s

presence, his final departure being revealed in the next chapter,

Coffman wrote.

III. Chapter 10 continues Ezekiel’s vision of the departing glory of the

Lord. (McGee)

Commentary:

Ezekiel 10:1, I looked, and I saw the likeness of a throne of sapphire

above the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim. (NIV

1984)

I. I looked, and I saw the likeness of a throne of sapphire above the

expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim.

A. Youngblood provided the following information about

cherubim (plural of cherub):

1. Cherubim were winged angelic beings, often associated

with worship and praise of God.

2. When God drove Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden,

he placed cherubim at the east of the garden so Adam and

Eve could not return.

a. Genesis 3:24, After he drove the man out, he

placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden

cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and

forth to guard the way to the tree of life. (NIV 1984)

3. Symbolic representations were used in the Tabernacle and

in the Temple and were located at either end of the Mercy

Seat in the Holy of Holies while artistic designs of cherubim



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were used decoratively in the Tabernacle, Temple, and

elsewhere.

a. Exodus 25:17-22, “Make an atonement cover of

pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit

and a half wide. And make two cherubim out of

hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make one

cherub on one end and the second cherub on the

other; make the cherubim of one piece with the

cover, at the two ends. The cherubim are to have

their wings spread upward, overshadowing the

cover with them. The cherubim are to face each

other, looking toward the cover. Place the cover on

top of the ark and put in the ark the Testimony,

which I will give you. There, above the cover

between the two cherubim that are over the ark of

the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all

my commands for the Israelites. (NIV 1984)

b. Exodus 26:1, “Make the tabernacle with ten

curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and

scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a

skilled craftsman. (NIV 1984)

c. 1 Kings 6:23-28, In the inner sanctuary he made a

pair of cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high.

One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long,

and the other wing five cubits—ten cubits from wing

tip to wing tip. The second cherub also measured ten

cubits, for the two cherubim were identical in size

and shape. The height of each cherub was ten cubits.

He placed the cherubim inside the innermost room

of the temple, with their wings spread out. The wing

of one cherub touched one wall, while the wing of

the other touched the other wall, and their wings



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touched each other in the middle of the room. He

overlaid the cherubim with gold. (NIV 1984)

d. 1 Samuel 4:4, So the people sent men to Shiloh,

and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the

Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the

cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and

Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of

God. (NIV 1984)

e. 2 Samuel 6:2, He and all his men set out from

Baalah of Judah to bring up from there the ark of

God, which is called by the Name, the name of the

Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the

cherubim that are on the ark. (NIV 1984)

4. The four living creatures of Ezekiel and Revelation are

regarded as forms assumed by cherubim.

a. Revelation 4:6-9, Also before the throne there was

what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In

the center, around the throne, were four living

creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front

and in back. The first living creature was like a lion,

the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a

man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the

four living creatures had six wings and was covered

with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and

night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the

Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to

come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory,

honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and

who lives for ever and ever, (NIV 1984)



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b. Revelation 5:6, Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it

had been slain, standing in the center of the throne,

encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.

He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the

seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. (NIV

1984)

c. Revelation 6:1, I watched as the Lamb opened the

first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four

living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!”

(NIV 1984)

5. Seraphim were another form of angelic beings.

B. The throne, chariot of God (merkathah) now is shown to

Ezekiel in this vision.

1. Ezekiel 1:15-28, As I looked at the living creatures, I

saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its

four faces. This was the appearance and structure of the

wheels: They sparkled like chrysolite, and all four looked

alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting

a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the

four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not

turn about as the creatures went. Their rims were high

and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all

around. When the living creatures moved, the wheels

beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose

from the ground, the wheels also rose. Wherever the

spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise

along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures

was in the wheels. When the creatures moved, they also

moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood

still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the

wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the



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living creatures was in the wheels. Spread out above the

heads of the living creatures was what looked like an

expanse, sparkling like ice, and awesome. Under the

expanse their wings were stretched out one toward the

other, and each had two wings covering its body. When

the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings,

like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the

Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood

still, they lowered their wings. Then there came a voice

from above the expanse over their heads as they stood

with lowered wings. Above the expanse over their heads

was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high

above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw

that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like

glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down

he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.

Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy

day, so was the radiance around him. This was the

appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When

I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one

speaking. (NIV 1984)

C. Sapphire is a gem variety of corundum in transparent and

translucent crystals of a color other than red; especially one of a

transparent rich blue. (Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary,

Tenth Edition)

1. Ezekiel 1:22, 26, Spread out above the heads of the

living creatures was what looked like an expanse,

sparkling like ice, and awesome. Above the expanse over

their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire,

and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a

man. (NIV 1984)



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Ezekiel 10:2, The Lord said to the man clothed in linen, “Go in

among the wheels beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with

burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the

city.” And as I watched, he went in. (NIV 1984)

I. The Lord said to the man clothed in linen,…

A. This personage was the highest ranking of the seven of whom

Hamilton wrote, “Evidently, this is a superhuman figure able to be

in the holy of holies.” (See Smith and Fredenburg.)

B. Allen observed that “the man clothed in linen” is no longer said

to have his writing kit with him as scribe, but now is presented as

the one who would destroy Jerusalem with fire.

II. “Go in among the wheels beneath the cherubim.

A. Allen asked, “Where is the fire to come from?”

1. The coals of fire are to be taken from beneath the

cherubim.

III. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and

scatter them over the city.”

A. These coals from the altar are to be scattered over the city to

foreshadow its destruction, judgment (Hamilton) and signifying

Jerusalem will be burned. (Fredenburg).

1. 2 Kings 25:8-9, On the seventh day of the fifth month,

in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of

Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial

guard, an official of the king of Babylon, came to

Jerusalem. He set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal



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palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important

building he burned down. (NIV 1984)

2. McGee wrote, “The people had refused the grace and

mercy and redemption of God; now they must bear the

judgment.”

B. In Isaiah 6 burning coals, however, were to purify rather than

destroy the prophet. (See Fredenburg.)

1. Isaiah 6:1-7, 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. Above him were

seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they

covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and

with two they were flying. And they were calling to one

another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the

whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their

voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple

was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am

ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among

a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King,

the Lord Almighty.” Then one of the seraphs flew to me

with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with

tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and

said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken

away and your sin atoned for.” (NIV 1984)

IV. And as I watched, he went in.

A. As Ezekiel watched, the man clothed in linen went in among the

wheels beneath the cherubim.



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Ezekiel 10:3, Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of

the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court.

(NIV 1984)

I. Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when

the man went in, and…

A. Hamilton wrote, “In this vision, Ezekiel notes that the cherubim

have shifted to the south side of the holy of holies (most holy place

– JS) in anticipation of leaving.”

1. Ezekiel looked into the temple and saw that the cherubim

had moved to the south side of the temple in anticipation of

leaving, departing from the temple. (See Fredenburg.)

2. The Authorized King James Version reads “…on the right

side…”, right always marking the South among the Hebrews.

(Clarke)

II. a cloud filled the inner court.

A. Fredenburg stated the cloud represented the presence of God

and identified the inner court with the Holy of Holies (Most Holy

Place) and the Holy Place.

1. 1 Kings 8:10-12, 34-35, When the priests withdrew

from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the

Lord. And the priests could not perform their service

because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his

temple. Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he

would dwell in a dark cloud; then hear from heaven and

forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back

to the land you gave to their fathers. “When the heavens

are shut up and there is no rain because your people have

sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place



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and confess your name and turn from their sin because

you have afflicted them, (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 10:4, Then the glory of the Lord rose from above the

cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled

the temple, and the court was full of the radiance of the glory of the

Lord. (NIV 1984)

I. Then the glory (Shekinah) of the Lord rose from above the cherubim

and moved to the threshold of the temple.

A. The glory of the Lord moved to forsake, leave the temple,

which is a repetition in vision form of the event of Ezekiel 9:3.

1. Ezekiel 9:3, Now the glory of the God of Israel went up

from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved

to the threshold of the temple. Then the Lord called to the

man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side

(NIV 1984)

II. The cloud filled the temple, and the court was full of the radiance of

the glory of the Lord.

A. 1 Kings 8:10-11, When the priests withdrew from the Holy

Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests

could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the

glory of the Lord filled his temple. (NIV 1984)

B. “This,” Clarke wrote, “is similar to what occurred frequently at

the tabernacle in the wilderness, and in the dedication of the temple

by Solomon.”

1. “This was the Divine Shekinah, the symbolical

representation of the majesty of God.” (Clarke)



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Ezekiel 10:5, The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard

as far away as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when

he speaks. (NIV 1984)

I. The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far away as

the outer court like the voice of God Almighty (El Shaddai) when he

speaks.

A. Cherubim were angels who are depicted in scriptures as

quartering something sacred. (Smith)

B. Fredenburg concluded it was from the outer court that Ezekiel

saw and heard these things.

C. Clarke observed that elsewhere the voice of God sounded like

thunder.

D. “God Almighty” (El Shaddai) is used eighty-one (81) times in

the book of Job alone and many times elsewhere.

Ezekiel 10:6, When the Lord commanded the man in linen, “Take

fire from among the wheels, from among the cherubim,” the man

went in and stood beside a wheel. (NIV 1984)

I. When the Lord commanded the man in linen, “Take fire from among

the wheels, from among the cherubim,”…

A. “The man clothed in linen” did as God commanded, entered

between the whirling wheels under the cherubim, filled his hands

with coals over the city of Jerusalem,” Smith wrote.

B. As the glory of the Lord prepared to leave the temple and city,

the man in linen is commanded to prepare to destroy the temple

and the city. (See Fredenburg.)



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II. the man went in and stood beside a wheel.

A. The man clothed in linen consistently and immediately obeyed

every command God gave him.

1. He set us a high standard for obedience to God which we

are to emulate!

B. The glory and chariot of God are wondrously presented in this

chapter.

Ezekiel 10:7, Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand to the

fire that was among them. He took up some of it and put it into the

hands of the man in linen, who took it and went out. (NIV 1984)

I. Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand to the fire that was

among them.

A. One of the cherubim co-operatively responded and assisted in

helping the man dressed in linen to do as God had commanded.

B. All of God’s children need to work together to achieve the

answer to our prayer, “…your will be done on earth as it is in

heaven.”

II. He took up some of it and put it into the hands of the man in linen

who took it and went out.

A. The man in linen accepted the coals from the cherub and left to

do as the Lord had commanded.

Ezekiel 10:8, (Under the wings of the cherubim could be seen what

looked like the hands of a man.) (NIV 1984)



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I. (Under the wings of the cherubim could be seen what looked like the

hands of a man.)

A. “…the hands of a man” indicate that human instrumentality

would be used to execute God’s judgment upon Israel. This vision

prophesized the fires that destroyed Jerusalem in 587 B.C. by the

Chaldean armies. (Coffman quoting Watt and Beasley-Murray)

1. Coffman well concluded that God is the prime agent in all

human history and that he utilizes human agencies on

occasion to accomplish his purpose. (See Coffman.)

B. The hand of God denotes his activity, his power and his

accomplishments.

1. Psalm 19:1, The heavens declare the glory of God; the

skies proclaim the work of his hands. (NIV 1984)

2. Isaiah 53:1, Who has believed our message and to

whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? (NIV 1984)

3. Ezekiel 1:8, Under their wings on their four sides they

had the hands of a man. All four of them had faces and

wings, (NIV 1984)

Note: The description of the Merkathah, the throne chariot of God, is

almost identical to that in chapter 1, Smith wrote, and the repetition

served to emphasize that God who once occupied the temple now abode

with the captives in Babylon.

A. Ezekiel 1:15-18, As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a

wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces.

This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They

sparkled like chrysolite, and all four looked alike. Each

appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they



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moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the

creatures faced; the wheels did not turn about as the creatures

went. Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims

were full of eyes all around. (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 10:9, I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels,

one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like chrysolite.

(NIV 1984)

I. I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each

of the cherubim;…

A. Attention for the rest of this chapter is focused on the cherubim

and the wheels of Yahweh’s throne chariot, Fredenburg advised.

1. While there are several minor differences and one major

one, this description essentially repeats the vision of Ezekiel

1:5-28. (See Fredenburg.)

A. Ezekiel 1:5-28, and in the fire was what looked

like four living creatures. In appearance their form

was that of a man, but each of them had four faces

and four wings. Their legs were straight; their feet

were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished

bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they

had the hands of a man. All four of them had faces

and wings, and their wings touched one another.

Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as

they moved. Their faces looked like this: Each of the

four had the face of a man, and on the right side

each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of

an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. Such were

their faces. Their wings were spread out upward;

each had two wings, one touching the wing of

another creature on either side, and two wings



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covering its body. Each one went straight ahead.

Wherever the spirit would go, they would go,

without turning as they went. The appearance of the

living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like

torches. Fire moved back and forth among the

creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of

it. The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of

lightning. As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a

wheel on the ground beside each creature with its

four faces. This was the appearance and structure of

the wheels: They sparkled like chrysolite, and all

four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a

wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they

would go in any one of the four directions the

creatures faced; the wheels did not turn about as the

creatures went. Their rims were high and awesome,

and all four rims were full of eyes all around. When

the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them

moved; and when the living creatures rose from the

ground, the wheels also rose. Wherever the spirit

would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise

along with them, because the spirit of the living

creatures was in the wheels. When the creatures

moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood

still, they also stood still; and when the creatures

rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with

them, because the spirit of the living creatures was

in the wheels. Spread out above the heads of the

living creatures was what looked like an expanse,

sparkling like ice, and awesome. Under the expanse

their wings were stretched out one toward the other,

and each had two wings covering its body. When the

creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings,

like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the

Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they



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stood still, they lowered their wings. Then there

came a voice from above the expanse over their

heads as they stood with lowered wings. Above the

expanse over their heads was what looked like a

throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne

was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what

appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing

metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he

looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.

Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a

rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was

the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the

Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the

voice of one speaking. (NIV 1984)

b. In the first vision God demonstrated his power over

Babylonia and in this one attention is focused on Judah,

Jerusalem and the temple.

Note: What is described here is unlike anything on earth and its

operation is beyond human understanding. Due to its strangeness and

perhaps insufficient descriptive information, it is impossible to fully and

accurately draw a picture of it or to build an accurate functioning model

of it. (See Coffman.)

B. The wheels were in constant motion indicating the Lord’s

unceasing activity.

1. John 5:17, Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at

his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” (NIV

1984)

II. the wheels sparkled like chrysolite (beryl, carbuncle, chrysolite, etc.).



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A. Chrysolite (olivine) is a greenish mineral that is a complex

silicate of magnesium and iron. (Miriam Webster’s Collegiate

Dictionary, Tenth Edition)

B. Chrysolite, as defined by Youngblood, is a yellow stone that

could have been the same as topaz or some other yellow gem such

as beryl, zircon, or a yellow quartz. The chrysolite known today is

the peridot, an olive green silicate of magnesium and iron.

Chrysoprase is a variety of chalcedony and has a light green color.

Chrysolite and chrysoprase are listed as foundation stones of the

New Jerusalem.

1. Revelation 21:18-21, The wall was made of jasper, and

the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of

the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious

stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second

sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the

fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite,

the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase,

the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve

gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl.

The great street of the city was of pure gold, like

transparent glass. (NIV 1984)

C. The Vulgate translates the phrase as “like the sea,” i.e., azure,

while beryl is a gem of a green colour, passing from one side into

blue, on the other side into yellow. (Clarke)

Ezekiel 10:10, As for their appearance, the four of them looked

alike; each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel. (NIV 1984)

I. As for their (the wheels’) appearance, the four of them looked alike;

each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel.



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A. “This,” Clarke wrote, “is difficult to comprehend. It is generally

supposed to mean one wheel within another, cutting each other at

right angles. I have conjectured it… to mean a wheel with two

rims, working on the same axis.”

1. Ezekiel 1:16-18, This was the appearance and structure

of the wheels: They sparkled like chrysolite, and all four

looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel

intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any

one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels

did not turn about as the creatures went. Their rims were

high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all

around. (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 10:11, As they moved, they would go in any one of the four

directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about as the

cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head

faced, without turning as they went. (NIV 1984)

I. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the

cherubim faced;…

A. This interaction and coordinated movement, Wesley suggested,

speaks of their dependence on each other and the joint tendency of

all to one common end.

II. the wheels did not turn about as the cherubim went.

A. These motions are intricate and perplexing, Wesley further

stated, difficult for us to understand.

III. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head (of the living

creatures) faced, without turning as they went.



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A. They were so constructed that they could move on all four sides

without difficulty or delay of turning, Wesley wrote.

Ezekiel 10:12, Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands

and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four

wheels. (NIV 1984)

I. Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings,

were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels.

A. The eyes speak to the all-knowing, all-seeing God. (Coffman)

1. Some heathen idols were covered with eyes. (Cooke via

Coffman)

2. Zechariah 3:9, See, the stone I have set in front of

Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will

engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty,

‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.

(NIV 1984)

3. Revelation 4:6-10, Also before the throne there was

what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the

center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and

they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The

first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an

ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a

flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six

wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under

his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy,

holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and

is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory,

honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who

lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down

before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who



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lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the

throne and say: (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 10:13, I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.”

(NIV 1984)

I. I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.”

A. McGee wrote that this speaks of the energy of God as He moves

in the affairs of man.

Ezekiel 10:14, Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was

that of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a

lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. (NIV 1984)

I. Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub,

the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth

the face of an eagle.

A. In the earlier vision of the living creatures, each had four faces,

those of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle.

1. Here the face of the ox was replaced by the face of the

cherub.

a. Ezekiel 1:10, Their faces looked like this: Each of

the four had the face of a man, and on the right side

each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of

an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. (NIV 1984)

2. The eastward projection here made the “ox face” the “face

of the cherub”. Coffman stated that any face of the four

directed toward the east would have been the face of the

cherub (angel).



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Ezekiel 10:15, Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the

living creatures I had seen by the Kebar River. (NIV 1984)

I. Then the cherubim rose upward.

A. It is sad to see God leave the temple, Jerusalem and Judah, but

he was not forsaking the righteous, only those who had rejected

Him and had continually done wicked and detestable things.

(Coffman and Matthew Henry)

B. The living creatures (cherubim) reference the Sovereign God!

II. These were the living creatures I had seen by the Kebar River.

A. These living creatures were cherubim, Ezekiel came to

understand.

B. Bluntly via Coffman wrote that “God was forsaking the old

radical Israel and would forever afterwards concentrate on “the

righteous remnant.”

Ezekiel 10:16, When the cherubim moved, the wheels beside them

moved; and when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the

ground, the wheels did not leave their side. (NIV 1984)

I. When the cherubim moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when

the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did

not leave their side.

A. “The wheeled vehicle upon which the throne sits is able to

maneuver in any direction,” Fredenburg wrote.

1. God can move in any direction at any time as He sees fit

and has never been confined to any particular place(s). (See

Fredenburg.)



25

a. 1 Kings 8:27, “But will God really dwell on earth?

The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot

contain you. How much less this temple I have built!

(NIV 1984)

b. The temple has been defiled and Jerusalem was about

to be burned. (Fredenburg)

c. Yahweh is ready to depart from the corrupted temple,

sinful and wicked Jerusalem! (See Fredenburg.)

Ezekiel 10:17, When the cherubim stood still, they also stood still;

and when the cherubim rose, they rose with them, because the spirit

of the living creatures was in them. (NIV 1984)

I. When the cherubim stood still, they also stood still; and when the

cherubim rose, they rose with them,…

A. Wesley wrote that there is perfect harmony between the

cherubim and the four living creatures and the one infinite, wise,

good and holy God.

II. because the spirit of the living creatures was in them.

A. The spirit of God directed all the creatures so that they serve the

divine purpose, Wesley stated.

B. All activity is determined, directed by the divine direction,

providence.

Ezekiel 10:18, Then the glory of the Lord departed from over the

threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. (NIV 1984)



26

I. Then the glory of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the

temple and stopped above the cherubim.

A. God’s glory is ready to depart from the temple which actually

took place in Ezekiel 11:22-23.

1. Ezekiel 11:22-23, Then the cherubim, with the wheels

beside them, spread their wings, and the glory of the God

of Israel was above them. The glory of the Lord went up

from within the city and stopped above the mountain east

of it. (NIV 1984)

Ezekiel 10:19, While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings

and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with

them. They stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the Lord’s

house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. (NIV

1984)

I. While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the

ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them.

A. The cherubim transported God away from the temple where his

presence and, glory had been since the day Solomon dedicated the

temple. (See Fredenburg.)

B. The glory of the Lord departed the temple by way of the east

gate and following the captivity, God’s glory would return by way

of the east gate.

1. Ezekiel 43:4, The glory of the Lord entered the temple

through the gate facing east. (NIV 1984)

II. They stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the Lord’s house, and

the glory of the God of Israel was above them.



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A. The glory of the God of Israel moved to exit the temple

stopping briefly at the east gate.

B. Yahweh left the Temple leaving the temple and the city without

divine protection. (See Fredenburg.)

Ezekiel 10:20, These were the living creatures I had seen beneath

the God of Israel by the Kebar River, and I realized that they were

cherubim. (NIV 1984)

I. These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by

the Kebar River, and I realized that they were cherubim.

A. This passage identifies the living creatures of the first vision

with the cherubim of this vision. (Hamilton)

B. Hamilton further wrote that Ezekiel twice noted that he had

twice seen these living creatures by the Kebar River.

1. This, Hamilton stated, indicates that God may have

abandoned the city and temple, but not his faithful people

themselves.

2. Hamilton concluded God was still among his people in

time of trouble.

Note: “Verse 20 repeats verse 15. Verse 21 is a repetitive summary of

verses 8, 14, and 16. Verses 20 and 22 closely connect this vision and its

elements with the first vision by the Kebar River of Ezekiel,”

Fredenburg wrote.

C. Ezekiel emphasized that the throne vehicle and the glory riding

on it were the very same as that which appeared earlier by the

Kebar River among the exiles, Fredenburg wrote.



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1. God had deserted Jerusalem, the temple and Judah, but this

did not mean he had forsaken his faithful people wherever

they were, even in Babylon. (See Fredenburg.)

2. God’s favor, presence were not contingent on location, the

temple and other such factors. (See Fredenburg.)

Ezekiel 10:21, Each had four faces and four wings, and under their

wings was what looked like the hands of a man. (NIV 1984)

I. Each had four faces and four wings, and under their wings was what

looked like the hands of a man.

A. These cherubim and the four living beings, creatures were the

same as those which appeared to Ezekiel at his call in chapter 1

which, in the vision, took place by the Kebar River in Babylon.

(Allen)

1. The present vision is set in Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 10:22, Their faces had the same appearance as those I had

seen by the Kebar River. Each one went straight ahead. (NIV 1984)

I. Their faces had the same appearance as those I had seen by the Kebar

River.

A. Fredenburg concluded by writing, “Thus, these last verses serve

as a glimmer of hope, but they also call for a revelation by Ezekiel

and the exiles of their view of the relationship between Yahweh,

the temple, the land, and his people.”

II. Each one went straight ahead.

A. All God’s servants are to go “straight ahead,” turning neither to

the right nor the left and certainly not backwards into sin.



29

1. Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For

wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to

destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the

gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few

find it. (NIV 1984)

2. Jeremiah 2:19, Your wickedness will punish you; your

backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize

how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the

Lord your God and have no awe of me,” declares the

Lord, the Lord Almighty. (NIV 1984)

3. Jeremiah 31:22, How long will you wander, O

unfaithful daughter? The Lord will create a new thing on

earth—a woman will surround a man.” (NIV 1984)

4. Jeremiah 49:4, Why do you boast of your valleys, boast

of your valleys so fruitful? O unfaithful daughter, you

trust in your riches and say, ‘Who will attack me?’ (NIV

1984)

5. In our service we are to turn neither to the right hand or the

left.

Conclusion:

I. The throne of God is shown in Ezekiel 10 to be absolutely supreme,

righteous and glorious beyond description. (See The Pulpit

Commentary.)

II. The coals of fire which Ezekiel saw were used to destroy (Jerusalem),

but God’s fire could also be used to purify (as with Isaiah). (See The

Pulpit Commentary.)



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III. The glory of God is on the move in the affairs of mankind to

accomplish his purposes; He often uses the services of mankind, (a

man’s hand) to accomplish his purposes. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

A. Remember, the glory of God can enter your life, but it can also

leave!



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Questions

on

Ezekiel 10:1-22

(Questions based on NIV text.)

1. Why did God’s glory depart from the Temple? ____________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

2. Compare chapters 1 and 10. Cite likenesses and differences.

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

3. Why do these differences exist? What accounts for them?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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4. Ezekiel 8-11 is a unit. What is addressed, discussed in this

unit? _______________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

5. What does Ezekiel 10:1-8 prophesy? Verses 9-22 discuss

what preparations? ____________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

6. What were cherubim? What is the difference between cherub

and cherubim? _______________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

7. Describe the throne of God? __________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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8. Cite biblical references to cherubim. What functions did they

perform in each of these references? ______________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

9. How are cherubim and the four living creatures alike? How

are they different? ____________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

10. How are seraphim and cherubim alike? How are they

different? ___________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

11. What is the merkathah? _____________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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12. Who was “the man clothed in linen?” What were his nature

and rank in relation to the six guards and duties? Why did he no

longer carry his writing kit in chapter 10? __________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

13. According to Ezekiel 10:2, what did God command the man

clothed in linen to do? What did the scattering of burning coals

over the city foreshadow? ______________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

14. Burning coal can be used to _______________ or to

_______________.

15. Where were the cherubim standing? What does this change

in location indicate? Among the Hebrews, the ____________

side always meant the ____________ side. _________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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16. Where in scripture do we read of a cloud in regard to God’s

actions? What does the cloud signify? _____________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

17. Define shekinah. __________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

18. The ____________ ____________ the ____________, and

the ____________ was ____________ of the ____________ of

the ____________ of the ____________.

19. Define El Shaddai. _________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

20. Describe the voice of God. ___________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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____________________________________________________

21. “The ____________ ____________ in ____________” did

as ____________ ____________, ____________ between the

____________ ____________ under the ____________,

____________ has ____________ with ____________ of

____________, and ____________ these ____________

____________ over the ____________ of ____________.

22. As the ____________ of the ____________ ____________

to ____________ the ____________ and ____________, the

____________ in ____________ is ____________ to prepare to

____________ the ____________ and the ____________. The

____________ ____________ in ____________ ____________

and ____________ ____________ ____________

____________ ____________ gave him. He set us a

______________ ______________ for ______________ to

____________ which we are to ____________.

23. ____________ of the ____________ ____________

____________ and ____________ in ____________ the

____________ ____________ in ____________ to do as

____________ had ____________. ____________ of

____________’s ____________ need to ____________

____________ to ____________ the ____________ to our

____________, “…your ____________ be ____________ on

____________ as it is in ____________.”

24. The ____________ of ____________ denotes his

____________, his ____________ and his ____________. “The

hands of a man” may indicate that ____________



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____________ would be used to ____________ ____________

____________ upon ____________.

25. ____________, who once occupied the ____________, how

abode with the ____________ in ____________ as well as with

other faithful exiles elsewhere.

26. What did the four wheels represent? How did they work,

function? ___________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

27. What differences are there between the vision in Ezekiel 1:5-

28 and the comparable vision in Ezekiel 10? ________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

28. What is signified by the wheels being in constant motion?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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29. Describe the wheels as to appearance. How did they work,

operate? ____________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

30. What was signified by the fact that the entire bodies of the

cherubim were covered with eyes? _______________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

31. Each of the cherubim had four faces, a cherub (ox), a man, a

lion and an eagle. What was the significance of each of these

different faces? What connection is there between a cherub and

an ox? ______________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

32. It is ____________ to see ____________ leave the

____________, ____________ and ____________, but he was

not ____________ the ____________, only those who had

____________ Him and had ____________ done

____________ and ____________ things.



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33. The ____________ ____________ upon which the

____________ sits is able to ____________ in any

____________. ____________ can ____________ in any

____________ at ____________ as he sees ____________ and

has never been ____________ to any ____________

____________.

34. Ezekiel 10:17 teaches there is ____________ ____________

between the ____________ and the ____________

____________ ____________ and the ____________

____________, ____________, ____________ and

____________ ____________.

35. The motion of the cherubim and the wheels were perfectly

coordinated because the ____________ of the ____________

____________ was in them.

36. When Christians are unified and work together co-

operatively and harmoniously, the world comes to realize it is

because the ____________ of the ____________ ____________

is in them. When “Christians” are divided, are uncooperative

and contentious, the world comes to realize it is because the

____________ of the ____________ is in them.

37. How can you be assured the glory of the Lord will brighten

your life? How can you know that the glory of the Lord has

departed from your life? ________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

38. How does Ezekiel 10:19 describe the next step in God’s

departure from the temple? _____________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

39. The ____________ ____________ were ____________.

(See Ezekiel 10:20.)

40. ____________ was abandoning ____________ and the

____________, but he had not abandoned his ____________

____________ themselves. ____________ was still among his

____________ in ____________ of ____________.

41. Verse ____________ repeats verse ____________. Verse

____________ is a repetitive summary of verses ____________,

____________ and ____________. Verses ____________ and

____________ associate this vision with that of Ezekiel ______.

42. All God’s servants are to go “straight ahead.” What does this

mean? ______________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________



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43. The ____________ of ____________ is shown in Ezekiel 10

to be ____________ ____________, ____________ and

____________ beyond ____________.

44. For what were coals of fire used in the Bible? ____________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

45. The ____________ of ____________ is on the move in the

____________ of ____________ to ____________ his

____________. He often uses the ____________ of

____________ (a ____________’s ____________) to

____________ his purposes. Remember, the ____________ of

____________ can ____________ your ____________, but it

can also ____________!

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