Digging Up the Bible: An Ivory Cherub

DIGGING UP THE BIBLE
Important Archeological Finds that help Us Understand Scripture
pdf
Linda Manuel—1996

Ivory Cherub from Samaria
(9^th century BC)

This ivory cherub is from a cache of over 200 pieces that excavators found in the palace of King Ahab (876-854 B.C.) at Samaria: "As for the other events of Ahab's reign, including all he did, the palace he built and inlaid with ivory..." (1 Kgs 22:39).

All the ivories in the collection represent the Phoenician style and are similar to those from Cyprus, Syria, and Assyria. Some scholars believe Jezebel, Ahab's Tyrian wife, introduced them along with various cult practices to the northern capital of Israel. Tradition identifies human-headed lions with spread wings as the biblical cherubim.

Cherubim are composite creatures, perhaps the most spectacular of the supernatural realm. They appear in the Old Testament numerous times yet only once in the New: "Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover" (Heb 9:5). Not all cherubim are alike, although they have similar features in each account. When describing them for the wilderness tabernacle, the biblical author assumes the reader is already familiar with the cherubim's appearance, concentrating on their placement over the ark and their relative orientation:

Make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 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. The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you. There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites. (Exod 25:18-22)

When describing cherubim for the first temple, the biblical author again assumes the reader is familiar with the cherubim's appearance, specifying the materials and dimensions for their construction:

In the inner sanctuary he made a pair of cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing five cubits—ten cubits from wing tip to wing tip. The second cherub also measured ten cubits, for the two cherubim were identical in size and shape. The height of each cherub was ten cubits. He placed the cherubim 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. He overlaid the cherubim with gold. (1 Kgs 6:23-28)

Several other passages speak about the LORD "enthroned between the cherubim" (2 Sam 6:2; Ps 80:1; 99:1; Isa 37:16).

The fullest description of cherubim is in Ezekiel's vision of the heavenly entourage that attends the LORD:

In the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was that of a man, but each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had the hands of a man. All four of them had faces and wings, and their wings touched one another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved. Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a man, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. (Ezek 1:5-10)

 Later, the prophet identifies these "living creatures": "I realized that they were cherubim" (Ezek 10:20).

The living creatures in Rev 4 are probably the same beings (cherubim), but John describes them differently from the creatures in Ezekiel. Each has one prominent feature, but all have six wings and many eyes:

The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. (Rev 4:7-8)

 Whether the decorative image in Ahab's palace or the "living creature" in John's vision, the cherub is a composite, supernatural being that should be terrifying to the people of God because it serves in the presence of God. 

Significance for Biblical Studies: The Ivory Cherub from Samaria is a reminder that what is evident to the physical senses is not all there is, that we do not live in a closed system but in a realm both natural and supernatural beings inhabit, a collective group we will one day join:

There before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.... They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God. (Rev 7:9, 11).

For a pdf go here.