Ezekiel 10

1 Then I looked, and, behold, above the heaven that was above the head of the cherubim there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.

2 And he spoke to the man clothed with linen and said, Go in between the wheels under the cherubim and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city. And he went in, in my sight.

3 Now the cherubim stood on the right side of the house when this man went in, and the cloud filled the inner court.

4 And the glory of the LORD had gone up from the cherubim to the threshold of the door, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’s glory.

5 And the thunder of the cherubim’s wings was heard even to the outer court as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaks.

6 And it came to pass that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubim; then he went in and stood among the wheels.

7 And one cherubim stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim unto the fire that was between the cherubim and took thereof and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen, who took it and went out.

8 And there appeared in the cherubim the form of a man’s hand under their wings.

9 And when I looked, behold, four wheels by the cherubim, one wheel by each cherubim; and the colour of the wheels was as a stone of Tarsis or beryl.

10 And as for their appearance, the four were the same, as if one were in the midst of another.

11 When they went, they went upon their four sides; they did not turn as they went, but to the place where the first one went, they followed it; they did not turn as they went.

12 And all their flesh and their ribs and their hands and their wings and the wheels: they were full of eyes round about in their four wheels.

13 To the wheels, it was shouted unto them in my hearing, Roll!

14 And each one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherubim; the second face was the face of a man; the third the face of a lion; the fourth the face of an eagle.

15 And the cherubim rose up. These are the living creatures that I saw by the river of Chebar.

16 And when the cherubim went, the wheels went with them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also did not turn from beside them.

17 When they stood still, these stood still; and when they lifted up themselves, these lifted up themselves also; for the spirit of the living creatures was in them.

18 And the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house and stood over the cherubim.

19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight; when they went out, the wheels also were in front of them, and they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the LORD’s house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

20 These were the living creatures that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim.

21 Each one had four faces, and each one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.

22 And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearance and their being; each one went straight in the direction they were facing.

Ezekiel 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

A vision of the burning of the city. (1-7) The Divine glory departing from the temple. (8-22)

Verses 1-7 The fire being taken from between the wheels, under the cherubim, ch. 1:13 , seems to have signified the wrath of God to be executed upon Jerusalem. It intimated that the fire of Divine wrath, which kindles judgment upon a people, is just and holy; and in the great day, the earth, and all the works that are therein, will be burnt up.

Verses 8-22 Ezekiel sees the working of Divine providence in the government of the lower world, and the affairs of it. When God is leaving a people in displeasure, angels above, and all events below, further his departure. The Spirit of life, the Spirit of God, directs all creatures, in heaven and on earth, so as to make them serve the Divine purpose. God removes by degrees from a provoking people; and, when ready to depart, would return to them, if they were a repenting, praying people. Let this warn sinners to seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call on him while he is near, and cause us all to walk humbly and watchfully with our God.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 10

In this chapter is a vision, very much like that in the first chapter, with some difference, and with a different view, the design of it being to represent the wrath of God against Jerusalem, and his departure from the city and temple. A throne much like that in Eze 1:26 is described, Eze 10:1; orders are given from it to scatter coals over the city, Eze 10:2; the situation of the cherubim when these orders were given, Eze 10:3; the removal of the glory of the Lord from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the consequences of it; the house filled with smoke; the court with the brightness of the Lord's glory; and the sound of the cherubim's wings heard to the outer court, as the voice of God, Eze 10:4,5; the orders of taking and scattering fire over the city executed, and the manner in which they were, Eze 10:6,7; a description of the cherubim and the wheels, much like that in the first chapter, Eze 10:8-17; the departure of the glory of God from the threshold to the east gate of the Lord's house, with the motion of the cherubim and wheels along with him, Eze 10:18,19; and the chapter is concluded with observing, that the cherubim are the same with the living creatures seen in the vision of the first chapter, and had the same form, likeness, and motion, Eze 10:20-22.