There are many who think the Temple is a model for the Throne Room in Heaven. In Solomon’s Temple, cherubim are a theme literally and figuratively woven and placed throughout the structure. Cherubim play a prominent part in the Temple.
The text is very careful to point out the specific details of the cherubim and where they belong. Are the sizes and dimensions the exact representation of physical beings? What about the size ratio of cherubim relative to other structures? We need to pay attention, God’s word provides specific details. I suspect this matters.
1 Kings 6:23-30 In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, out of olive wood. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing was five cubits long as well. So the full wingspan was ten cubits. The second cherub also measured ten cubits; both cherubim had the same size and shape, and the height of each cherub was ten cubits. And he placed the cherubim inside the innermost room of the temple. Since their wings were spread out, the wing of the first cherub touched one wall, while the wing of the second cherub touched the other wall, and in the middle of the room their wingtips touched. He also overlaid the cherubim with gold. Then he carved the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. And he overlaid the temple floor with gold in both the inner and outer sanctuaries.
First there is the definition of a cubit. A cubit is considered to be roughly 18 inches or a foot and a half. 45 centimeters for those folks who are used to metric measurements. This was based on the length of the arm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger and was considered the equivalent of 6 palms or 2 spans. Definition provided by Britannica.
The height of the cherubim is 10 cubits or 15 feet tall. The height of the inner chamber of the temple is 20 cubits or 30 feet tall. A cherub is half the height of the room.
Each wing of a cherub is 5 cubits or 7.5 feet. When the wings of the cherubim are side to side, they fill the room of 20 cubits or 30 feet in width. The wing span of a single cherub is equal to its height, 10 cubits or 15 feet.
The size of the inner chamber is a perfect cube, 20 cubits high, 20 cubits across, and 20 cubits deep.
1 Kings 6:20 The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high.
The Cherubim are located in the inner chamber and fill the room. Cherubim are covered with gold. Cherubim are engraved on the door. Cherubim are sewn on the curtains. Cherubim are on the Ark of the Covenant which is the center of the chamber.
2 Chronicles 5:8 The cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles.
