Exodus 25:19
Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The cherubim aren't just decorative figures; they are to be made from the very same piece of gold as the mercy seat. This signifies their intrinsic unity and purpose: to be inseparable from the place where God’s mercy is revealed and where He meets His people.
God has just instructed Moses to gather freewill offerings from the Israelites for the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings. Now, God is giving detailed specifications for the Ark of the Covenant, which will house the stone tablets containing the Law. This ark is central to God's presence among His people, and the following instructions describe the golden lid, the "mercy seat," and the two cherubim that will adorn it.
These ornate figures weren't just attached; they were born from the very covering of the Ark. What does this intimate connection reveal about their purpose?
The instructions for the cherubim are striking: they are to be made 'of one piece with the mercy seat.' This wasn't about sticking separate decorations onto an existing object. It means the cherubim, with their outstretched wings, were to be hammered out or cast directly from the same mass of gold as the mercy seat itself.
Seamless Connection
This unified construction emphasizes that the cherubim and the mercy seat were inseparable. They weren't independent elements but a single, divinely designed unit. This speaks to the holistic nature of God's presence and His interaction with humanity.
A Divine Unity
The cherubim, often seen as heavenly messengers or guardians, and the mercy seat, the place of atonement and God's meeting point with His people, are presented here as a unified whole. This points to the profound truth that God's holiness (represented by the cherubim) and His mercy are intrinsically linked, essential for us to approach Him.
These majestic beings weren't just looking into empty space. Their gaze was fixed. What were they looking at, and what does that tell us about God's interaction with His people?
The text specifically instructs that the cherubim's faces would 'look one toward another; and toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be' (Exodus 25:20).
Focused Attention
This focused gaze is significant. The cherubim, representing God's heavenly court and His divine holiness, were directed towards the mercy seat. This wasn't a casual glance; it was a steady, purposeful looking.
Anticipating God's Presence
This posture symbolizes a constant anticipation of God's presence and a deep reverence for the place where He would meet His people. From this very spot, God promised to commune with Moses and Israel (Exodus 25:22). The cherubim's gaze directs our attention to this crucial point of divine-human interaction.
This passage directly refers to the cherubim and the mercy seat, highlighting their role in the Old Testament sacrificial system and connecting them to Christ's atoning sacrifice.
1 Kings 8:6-7This passage describes the ark of the covenant being placed in the newly built Temple, with the cherubim overshadowing the ark, echoing the imagery and significance of God's presence described in Exodus.
Ezekiel 10:18-20Ezekiel's vision of the cherubim and the glory of God departing from the Temple provides a contrasting perspective, showing the cherubim's association with God's presence and its potential departure due to sin.
Psalm 80:1This psalm directly references God dwelling 'between the cherubim,' invoking the imagery of the mercy seat and the cherubim as a symbol of God's intimate presence and desire to hear His people.
calvinExodus 25:1-22: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
Expandentque cherubim duas alas superne tegentes alis suis propitiatorium, et se mutuo aspicient: ad propitiatorium erunt facies cherubim.
And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put th…
pulpitExodus 25:19: "And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof."
Verse 19. - On the one end on the other end... on the two ends. The preposition used is in every case the same as that of the last clause of ver. 18 - viz., min, "from." The idea is that the figures rose from the two ends.
The cherubim aren't just decorative figures; they are to be made from the very same piece of gold as the mercy seat. This signifies their intrinsic unity and purpose: to be inseparable from the place where God’s mercy is revealed and where He meets His people.
God has just instructed Moses to gather freewill offerings from the Israelites for the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings. Now, God is giving detailed specifications for the Ark of the Covenant, which will house the stone tablets containing the Law. This ark is central to God's presence among His people, and the following instructions describe the golden lid, the "mercy seat," and the two cherubim that will adorn it.
God has just instructed Moses to gather freewill offerings from the Israelites for the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings. Now, God is giving detailed specifications for the Ark of the Covenant, which will house the stone tablets containing the Law. This ark is central to God's presence among His people, and the following instructions describe the golden lid, the "mercy seat," and the two cherubim that will adorn it.
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Looking to the Atonement
Ultimately, this points forward to Christ. The mercy seat is a clear picture of Jesus, through whom God's wrath is appeased and His grace is extended. The cherubim, in their fixed gaze, reflect the heavenly host's deep interest and awe concerning God's plan of redemption through Christ.
"Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends." — The cherubim aren't just decorative figures; they are to be made from the very same piece of gold as the mercy seat. This signifies their intrinsic unity and purpose: to be inseparable from the pla…
