Ezekiel 11:22-23
Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the city.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easy to miss here is that the cherubim and their intricate wheels, described in vivid detail earlier, aren't just stationary symbols. They move, and they move in perfect, unified harmony with the "glory of the God of Israel" now positioned above them. This isn't a haphazard departure; it’s a majestic, coordinated exit of God’s presence, highlighting the profound connection between His presence and the actions of these divine beings.
This vision depicts the momentous departure of God's glory from Jerusalem, a consequence of the city's deep corruption. After hovering over the city, the divine presence now moves to the Mount of Olives, marking a final stage before its complete removal. This dramatic scene sets the stage for Ezekiel's return to the exiles in Babylon, bearing the weighty message of God's judgment and impending restoration.
Why would God's presence, the very symbol of His favor, leave His people and His holy city? Ezekiel's vision reveals a terrifying, yet necessary, divine action.
In this vision, the cherubim and wheels are part of God's majestic throne-chariot, and now they are moving.
A Necessary Separation
Ezekiel sees the glory of God, which had been hovering over the city, begin to depart. It's not a random departure, but a deliberate act linked to the people's deep-seated sin and the impending judgment. The cherubim lift their wings, and the wheels move, signifying that God's presence, which once protected and blessed Jerusalem, is now withdrawing because of its unfaithfulness. This isn't God abandoning His people forever, but a step in His judgment against their rebellion.
A Sign of Wrath
The glory of God is intensely powerful and holy. When that glory leaves, it signifies a withdrawal of protection, blessing, and even the divine light that exposes sin. This departure is a solemn warning, indicating that the covenant relationship is broken due to the people's actions, and judgment is imminent.
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What are these mysterious wheels beside the cherubim? They speak volumes about God's active, all-encompassing control, even in judgment.
The 'wheels beside them' are a crucial, awe-inspiring part of God's divine transport system. They aren't just random accessories; they are intricately connected to the cherubim and move with unified purpose.
Unified Movement
These wheels, described in earlier visions as 'a wheel within a wheel,' are full of eyes and move in perfect harmony with the cherubim. This imagery underscores that God's actions are never haphazard. Even in judgment, His movements are deliberate, coordinated, and guided by His comprehensive knowledge and will. There is a perfect synergy between the living creatures (cherubim) and the machinery (wheels), all directed by the Spirit of God.
Everywhere Present Power
This complex system shows God's power and presence are not confined. The wheels suggest mobility and omnipresence – God is not bound to a single location. As His glory prepares to leave Jerusalem, the wheels are prepared to carry it wherever His sovereign purposes dictate, whether in judgment or eventual restoration.
If God's glory is leaving, what does that mean for His people? The vision hints at a future beyond the present devastation.
While Ezekiel 11:22 describes the departure of God's glory, the imagery is not solely one of finality and despair. It also contains a profound message of hope for those who remain faithful.
A Temporary Absence
The glory doesn't vanish into nothingness. It is 'over them above' – still present, just moving. This suggests that God's relationship with His people, though strained by sin and resulting in judgment, is not permanently severed. The glory’s movement, though associated with judgment on Jerusalem, also implies that God takes His presence with His people, even those in exile.
Foreshadowing Restoration and Ascension
Ancient Jewish tradition noted that this departure from the Mount of Olives foreshadowed Christ's ascension from the same location. It points towards a future where God’s presence, embodied in Christ, would be both removed from earthly sight and yet made universally accessible through the Spirit. The departing glory, though a sign of judgment for unrepentant Jerusalem, ultimately points to God's enduring faithfulness and His plan for ultimate restoration and presence with His people.
Understand the original words
kerûḇ · Hebrew Noun
Angelic beings associated with the throne of God, symbolizing His majesty, holiness, and the divine presence guarding His glory.
kāḇôḏ · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew word 'kabod', signifying the visible manifestation of God’s character, power, and presence. It represents the weightiness of His majesty and His dwelling among His people.
Ezekiel's vision of God's glory departing from the Mount of Olives provides a powerful theological explanation for the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile. It underscores that God's presence is not tied to a building but departs due to sin, offering a stark warning to both those in exile and those who remained.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its inhabitants. This event marked a significant loss of God's presence and protection for the northern tribes.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon captures Jerusalem and deports King Jehoiachin and many leading citizens to Babylon. This signaled the beginning of Jerusalem's downfall.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining population to Babylon. This event represented the complete removal of God's visible glory from the land.
c. 593 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Vision of the Cherubim
Ezekiel receives a vision in Babylon of the glory of God departing from the Jerusalem Temple, lifting off from the Mount of Olives. This vision explains the spiritual reasons behind Jerusalem's destruction and exile.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus, king of Persia, conquers the Babylonian Empire, paving the way for the exiled Jews to return to their homeland.
c. 516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
The rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem is dedicated, signifying a partial restoration of God's presence among the returned exiles.
This passage describes the same movement of the cherubim and wheels, directly preceding the mention of the glory of God, showing the consistent divine transport mechanism.
Ezekiel 1:22-24This foundational vision of the living creatures and wheels explains the operational nature of the divine throne chariot, emphasizing its mobility and divine power that carries God's glory.
Ezekiel 43:2-5This passage shows the glory of God returning to a future temple, providing a hopeful contrast to its departure in Ezekiel 11, highlighting that even when God departs due to sin, His glory is not permanently lost to His people.
Luke 19:41-44Jesus weeping over Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives echoes the sorrow of God's departure from the city and foreshadows His ascension, connecting the physical location of the divine glory's departure with Christ's own lament and departure.
pulpitEzekiel 11:22: "Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above."
Verses 22, 23. - Another stage of the departure of the Divine glory closes the vision. It had rested over the middle of the city. It now halts over the mountain on the east side of the city, i.e. on the Mount of Olives (2 Samuel 15:30; Zechariah 14:4). Currey mentions, but without a reference, a Jewish tradition that the Shechinah, or glory cloud, rema…
ellicottEzekiel 11:22: "Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above."
(22) And the wheels beside them. —These are the wheels described as with the cherubim, and animated in their movements by one common impulse with them and, as all along, the Divine glory was above.
What's easy to miss here is that the cherubim and their intricate wheels, described in vivid detail earlier, aren't just stationary symbols. They move, and they move in perfect, unified harmony with the "glory of the God of Israel" now positioned above them. This isn't a haphazard departure; it’s a majestic, coordinated exit of God’s presence, highlighting the profound connection between His presence and the actions of these divine beings.
This vision depicts the momentous departure of God's glory from Jerusalem, a consequence of the city's deep corruption. After hovering over the city, the divine presence now moves to the Mount of Olives, marking a final stage before its complete removal. This dramatic scene sets the stage for Ezekiel's return to the exiles in Babylon, bearing the weighty message of God's judgment and impending restoration.
This vision depicts the momentous departure of God's glory from Jerusalem, a consequence of the city's deep corruption. After hovering over the city, the divine presence now moves to the Mount of Olives, marking a final stage before its complete removal. This dramatic scene sets the stage for Ezekiel's return to the exiles in Babylon, bearing the weighty message of God's judgment and impending restoration.
"Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the…" — What's easy to miss here is that the cherubim and their intricate wheels, described in vivid detail earlier, aren't just stationary symbols. They move, and they move in perfect, unified harmony wit…
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