Post by Lee on Sept 6, 2014 23:48:16 GMT
These four living ones and the four wheels are “The Chariot of the Cherubim.” They are the chariot in which the Deity rides forth to battle against the enemies of the house of David, and upon which he sits enthroned over Israel. This appears from 2 Sam. 22:11, and Psa. 80:1. In the former place, Yahweh is said to ride upon a cherub; and in the latter, to inhabit the cherubim. The etymology of the word is regarded as obscure. In view of this, I would suggest that we may take the root charav, as having been the same with kharav, to waste, to destroy, from which comes, kherev, a sword. This derivation is suggested by the text where kheruvim, or cherubim, first occurs in the scriptures; as, “Yahweh Elohim placed at the east of the garden of Eden the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned itself to guard the way of the tree of the lives.” By rendering wav, by even, instead of “and,” it would make the flaming sword expletive of the cherubim; as, “the cherubim, even the flaming sword”—the flame containing the cherubic power, as Ezekiel’s “whirlwind, great clouds, and fire,” did the four living ones he saw.
But, be the true etymology what it may, it is certain that they are symbols of a wasting and destroying power. When their wings are expanded they are in lightning operation; when let down, they are standing, and either preparing for action or “resting from their labors.” They are “full of eyes before and behind;” or, as Ezekiel says, “their whole basar, flesh, even their backs, and their hand, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about.” An eye is the symbol of intelligence; and when a multitude of eyes are aggregated together, each eye indicates a particular or individual intelligence. Ezekiel informs us that the eyes were in flesh which was full of them. Each eye, then, was a flesh-intelligence; and, as the four had each a human face and hand, and were endowed with the faculty of speech, the intelligence was that of a man. Hence, each eye is representative of a man; and as the four sing, “Thou hast redeemed us,” each eye is symbolical of a saint. The eyes are “a great multitude which no man can number;” yet they are symbolized by four, by 144,000, by a city lying four-square, and 144 cubits—that is, these numbers are symbolical of the saints; first, in relation to their encampment; second to their nationality; third, to their municipality; and fourth to their corporation limit.
Thomas, J. (1997). Eureka: An exposition of the Apocalypse (electronic ed.). West Beach, South Australia: Logos Publications.
But, be the true etymology what it may, it is certain that they are symbols of a wasting and destroying power. When their wings are expanded they are in lightning operation; when let down, they are standing, and either preparing for action or “resting from their labors.” They are “full of eyes before and behind;” or, as Ezekiel says, “their whole basar, flesh, even their backs, and their hand, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about.” An eye is the symbol of intelligence; and when a multitude of eyes are aggregated together, each eye indicates a particular or individual intelligence. Ezekiel informs us that the eyes were in flesh which was full of them. Each eye, then, was a flesh-intelligence; and, as the four had each a human face and hand, and were endowed with the faculty of speech, the intelligence was that of a man. Hence, each eye is representative of a man; and as the four sing, “Thou hast redeemed us,” each eye is symbolical of a saint. The eyes are “a great multitude which no man can number;” yet they are symbolized by four, by 144,000, by a city lying four-square, and 144 cubits—that is, these numbers are symbolical of the saints; first, in relation to their encampment; second to their nationality; third, to their municipality; and fourth to their corporation limit.
Thomas, J. (1997). Eureka: An exposition of the Apocalypse (electronic ed.). West Beach, South Australia: Logos Publications.