Ezekiel 10

12. body--literally, "flesh," because a body consists of flesh.
wheels . . . full of eyes--The description ( Ezekiel 1:18 ) attributes eyes to the "wheels" alone; here there is added, on closer observation, that the cherubim themselves had them. The "eyes" imply that God, by His wisdom, beautifully reconciles seeming contrarieties (compare 2 Chronicles 16:9 , Proverbs 15:3 , Zechariah 4:10 ).

13. O wheel--rather, "they were called, whirling," that is, they were most rapid in their revolutions [MAURER]; or, better, "It was cried unto them, The whirling" [FAIRBAIRN]. Galgal here used for "wheel," is different from ophan, the simple word for "wheel." Galgal is the whole wheelwork machinery with its whirlwind-like rotation. Their being so addressed is in order to call them immediately to put themselves in rapid motion.

14. cherub--but in Ezekiel 1:10 it is an ox. The chief of the four cherubic forms was not the ox, but man. Therefore "cherub" cannot be synonymous with "ox." Probably Ezekiel, standing in front of one of the cherubim (namely, that which handed the coals to the man in linen), saw of him, not merely the ox-form, but the whole fourfold form, and therefore calls him simply "cherub"; whereas of the other three, having only a side view, he specifies the form of each which met his eye [FAIRBAIRN]. As to the likelihood of the lower animals sharing in "the restoration of all things," see Isaiah 11:6 , 65:25 , Romans 8:20 Romans 8:21 ; this accords with the animal forms combined with the human to typify redeemed man.

15. The repeated declaration of the identity of the vision with that at the Chebar is to arouse attention to it ( Ezekiel 10:22 , 3:23 ).
the living creature--used collectively, as in Ezekiel 10:17 Ezekiel 10:20 , 1:20 .

17. ( Ezekiel 1:12 Ezekiel 1:20 Ezekiel 1:21 ).
stood--God never stands still ( John 5:17 ), therefore neither do the angels; but to human perceptions He seems to do so.

18. The departure of the symbol of God's presence from the temple preparatory to the destruction of the city. Foretold in Deuteronomy 31:17 . Woe be to those from whom God departs ( Hosea 9:12 )! Compare 1 Samuel 28:15 1 Samuel 28:16 , 4:21 : "I-chabod, Thy glory is departed." Successive steps are marked in His departure; so slowly and reluctantly does the merciful God leave His house. First He leaves the sanctuary ( Ezekiel 9:3 ); He elevates His throne above the threshold of the house ( Ezekiel 10:1 ); leaving the cherubim He sits on the throne ( Ezekiel 10:4 ); He and the cherubim, after standing for a time at the door of the east gate (where was the exit to the lower court of the people), leave the house altogether ( Ezekiel 10:18 Ezekiel 10:19 ), not to return till Ezekiel 43:2 .

20. I knew . . . cherubim--By the second sight of the cherubim, he learned to identify them with the angelic forms situated above the ark of the covenant in the temple, which as a priest, he "knew" about from the high priest.

21. The repetition is in order that the people about to live without the temple might have, instead, the knowledge of the temple mysteries, thus preparing them for a future restoration of the covenant. So perverse were they that they would say, "Ezekiel fancies he saw what has no existence." He, therefore, repeats it over and over again.

22. straight forward--intent upon the object they aimed at, not deviating from the way nor losing sight of the end ( Luke 9:52 ).