Really good discussion!!👍 And hits on questions many people have had on the subject of carvings/images. I love the fact that when discussing various subjects, you're not afraid (as with Dr Tabor as well) to conclude "we don't really know" for sure. Bringing forth the legitimate questions that Scripture brings us to, is almost more important than thinking we "know" all the answers. PLUS, glad you're back to the old Thursday night RUclips format. ❤
Looking at the layout of the armies of the children of Israel surrounding the tabernacle, we have a lion on the right (east), an ox on the left (west), and then the man (south) and the eagle (north). This compares with the cherubim described by Ezekiel. Looking over these verses in Ezekiel chapter 1 and comparing them with the verses in the book of Numbers, here is what we have. 1. Ezekiel sees a whirlwind coming out of the north (verse 4a). To see the whirlwind, Ezekiel had to be looking towards the north. So east is to his right, west is to his left, and south is behind him. 2. Ezekiel first describes each living creature as having the likeness of a man (verse 5a). Then he describes them as having the face of a man (verse 10a). Why does he describe a man first? Look at the layout of the encampment. The armies of Reuben with the banner of a man are on the south side of the tabernacle (Numbers 2:10). The south side is what Ezekiel would have seen when looking toward the north. 3. Ezekiel describes seeing the face of a lion on the right side (verse 10b). His right side is the east direction. The armies of Judah with the banner of a lion were camped on the east side of the tabernacle (Numbers 2:3). 4. Ezekiel next describes seeing the face of an ox on the left side (verse 10c). His left side is the west direction. The armies of Ephraim with the banner of an ox were camped on the west side of the tabernacle (Numbers 2:18). 5. Ezekiel finally describes seeing the face of an eagle (verse 10d). The only direction left is north and this is where the armies of Dan with the banner of an eagle are camped from the tabernacle (Numbers 2:25). 6. The final thing to note is that the living creatures did not turn when they went (verse 12b). In other words, the face of a man always remained on the south side, the face of a lion always remained on the east side, the face of an ox always remained on the west side, and the face of an eagle always remained on the north side.
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Really good discussion!!👍 And hits on questions many people have had on the subject of carvings/images.
I love the fact that when discussing various subjects, you're not afraid (as with Dr Tabor as well) to conclude "we don't really know" for sure. Bringing forth the legitimate questions that Scripture brings us to, is almost more important than thinking we "know" all the answers.
PLUS, glad you're back to the old Thursday night RUclips format. ❤
I just taught on this subject in my Torah Homeschool Co-Op!!!!!
Shalom brothers and sisters!💞
The four faces (Eagle, Lion, Man, Ox) are also the tribal emblems of Dan, Judah, Reuben and Ephraim
Looking at the layout of the armies of the children of Israel surrounding the tabernacle, we have a lion on the right (east), an ox on the left (west), and then the man (south) and the eagle (north). This compares with the cherubim described by Ezekiel.
Looking over these verses in Ezekiel chapter 1 and comparing them with the verses in the book of Numbers, here is what we have.
1. Ezekiel sees a whirlwind coming out of the north (verse 4a). To see the whirlwind, Ezekiel had to be looking towards the north. So east is to his right, west is to his left, and south is behind him.
2. Ezekiel first describes each living creature as having the likeness of a man (verse 5a). Then he describes them as having the face of a man (verse 10a). Why does he describe a man first? Look at the layout of the encampment. The armies of Reuben with the banner of a man are on the south side of the tabernacle (Numbers 2:10). The south side is what Ezekiel would have seen when looking toward the north.
3. Ezekiel describes seeing the face of a lion on the right side (verse 10b). His right side is the east direction. The armies of Judah with the banner of a lion were camped on the east side of the tabernacle (Numbers 2:3).
4. Ezekiel next describes seeing the face of an ox on the left side (verse 10c). His left side is the west direction. The armies of Ephraim with the banner of an ox were camped on the west side of the tabernacle (Numbers 2:18).
5. Ezekiel finally describes seeing the face of an eagle (verse 10d). The only direction left is north and this is where the armies of Dan with the banner of an eagle are camped from the tabernacle (Numbers 2:25).
6. The final thing to note is that the living creatures did not turn when they went (verse 12b). In other words, the face of a man always remained on the south side, the face of a lion always remained on the east side, the face of an ox always remained on the west side, and the face of an eagle always remained on the north side.