Exodus 25:17-22
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
17 You shall then make a cover[a] of pure gold, two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide. 18 Make two cherubim[b] of beaten gold for the two ends of the cover; 19 make one cherub at one end, and the other at the other end, of one piece with the cover, at each end. 20 The cherubim shall have their wings spread out above, sheltering the cover with them; they shall face each other, with their faces looking toward the cover. 21 This cover you shall then place on top of the ark. In the ark itself you are to put the covenant which I will give you. 22 There I will meet you and there, from above the cover, between the two cherubim on the ark of the covenant, I will tell you all that I command you regarding the Israelites.
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- 25:17 Cover: the Hebrew term, kapporet, has been connected with kippur, as in the feast of Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement (Lv 16; 23:26–32): hence, influenced by the Greek and Latin versions, and Luther’s German, English translations have rendered it “propitiatory,” “mercy seat,” and the like.
- 25:18–20 Cherubim: probably in the form of human-headed winged lions. The cherubim over the ark formed the throne for the invisible Lord. Cf. Ps 80:2. For a more detailed description of the somewhat different cherubim in the Temple of Solomon, see 1 Kgs 6:23–28; 2 Chr 3:10–13.
Exodus 25:17-22
New International Version
17 “Make an atonement cover(A) of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 18 And make two cherubim(B) out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 19 Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. 20 The cherubim(C) are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing(D) the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. 21 Place the cover on top of the ark(E) and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law(F) that I will give you. 22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim(G) that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet(H) with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.(I)
1 Kings 6:23-28
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
23 In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, made of pine. 24 Each wing of a cherub was five cubits so that the span from wing tip to wing tip was ten cubits. 25 The second cherub was also ten cubits: the two cherubim were identical in size and shape; 26 the first cherub was ten cubits high, and so was the second. 27 He placed the cherubim in the inmost part of the house; the wings of the cherubim were spread wide, so that one wing of the first touched the side wall and the wing of the second touched the other wall; the wings pointing to the middle of the room touched each other. 28 He overlaid the cherubim with gold.
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1 Kings 6:23-28
New International Version
23 For the inner sanctuary he made a pair of cherubim(A) out of olive wood, each ten cubits high. 24 One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing five cubits—ten cubits from wing tip to wing tip. 25 The second cherub also measured ten cubits, for the two cherubim were identical in size and shape. 26 The height of each cherub was ten cubits. 27 He placed the cherubim(B) inside the innermost room of the temple, with their wings spread out. The wing of one cherub touched one wall, while the wing of the other touched the other wall, and their wings touched each other in the middle of the room. 28 He overlaid the cherubim with gold.
1 Kings 8:6-7
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
6 [a]The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, the inner sanctuary of the house, the holy of holies, beneath the wings of the cherubim. 7 The cherubim had their wings spread out over the place of the ark, sheltering the ark and its poles from above.
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- 8:6–9 The transfer of the ark of the covenant into the newly constructed Temple building, God’s act of possession (8:10–13), and Solomon’s dedicatory prayer and sacrifices constituted the Temple’s solemn dedication and made of it the place of God’s presence in the midst of Israel for which David had hoped (2 Sm 6:12–15; 7:1–3). Later God expresses approval of the Temple with an oracle (1 Kgs 9:3–9).
1 Kings 8:6-7
New International Version
6 The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant(A) to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place,(B) and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim.(C) 7 The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed(D) the ark and its carrying poles.
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