The Cherubim
Choir
 Hierarchy: First Angelic
Triad
Order/Choir: Second Choir
Classified: Cherubim
Origin
of Name: Translated, the word means "fullness of
knowledge, or, wisdom."
Alternate Name(s): Malakhim, Mal'akh
Reports to: God
Angels: Cherubiel, Gabriel, Haziel,
Kerubiel, Ophaniel, Raphael, Sachiel, Uriel, Zophiel, Satan
(Before his fall)
Chronicle
Physical Appearance:
-
The Cherubim have four wings and four heads
-
The four heads point to the four points of
the compass
-
Cherubim are never mentioned as cute,
chubby winged babies with flutes and harps
as is depicted in so much "Angel art"
Symbolized
By:
Primary Role(s):
-
Cherubim are the Angels of God's knowledge or
wisdom
-
They are the spiritual leaders of Heaven
-
They have the capacity to understand and communicate
divine knowledge for the Creator
-
They are the guardians of the fixed stars
-
They are keepers of the celestial records
-
They are the bestowers of knowledge
Noted For:
-
Cherubim are the first Angelic mention in the Bible and are
referred to in the books of Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, I
& II Samuel, I & II Kings, I & II Chronicles,
Psalms, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Hebrews
-
In the Book of Genesis it is the Cherubim who force Adam
and Eve out of Eden and guard the gates to Paradise and the
Tree of Life, with a flaming sword flashing back and forth.
They will be there until the Day of Judgement
-
Cherubim are the carved figures on the lid of the Ark of
the Covenant
-
In Islamic lore, the Cherubim were supposedly created out
of the tears shed by the Archangel Michael for all the sins
of humanity
Possible
Origins:
The historical origins of their lore can possibly be traced
to:
- Assyria -
whose term Karabu meant "great and
mighty"
- Akkadia -
whose term Kuribu meant "propitious and
blessed"
- Babylonia -
whose term Karabu meant "propitious and
blessed"
 In some regions, the Assyro-Babylonian term
came to refer to "Spirits" which served the gods. In
particular to the Shedu which were
human-headed, winged, bulls. Sometimes these
Shedu were referred to as Kirubu, a
term grammatically related to Karabu. The
Karabu were represented as pairs of colossal
stone statues found on either side of objects to be
protected, such as the entrances to temples and
palaces.
A number of scholars have proposed that the Cherubim were
originally a version of the Shedu. However, while the
Shedu were popular in Mesopotamia, archaeological
remains suggest that they were quite rare in the immediate
vicinity of the Israelites.
On the other hand, the related Lammasu, the
human-headed winged lions, (similar to the Sphinx in
appearance), were the most popular winged-creature in
Phoenician art. As a result, many scholars suspect that
Cherubim were originally a form of Lammasu. This is
based upon archeological findings and opinions that the
Israelites arose as a subculture in Canaanite society. Hence,
it was only natural for the Israelites to continue using
Canaanite protective deities.
The Lammasu was originally depicted as having
a king's head, a lion's body, and an eagle's wings. Because of
the artistic beauty of the wings, they became the most
prominent part in imagery. Wings were later were bestowed on
men, thus forming the familiar image of an Angel.
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