Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 10:6
And it came to pass, [that] when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.
6. On the fire between the cherubim, cf. Eze 1:13.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
See Eze 10:2, which is the same in effect with this. What is said to be between the wheels is said also to be between the cherubims; which represent angels, the ministers of Gods providence; and so what now is observed to be among the wheels, in the effects or order of Gods providence, is among or between the angels, the ministerial causes thereof.
Then he went in, readily obeyed,
and stood beside the wheels; either as one that deferred execution, to try whether the city would repent, or as one that was to give some further order to angels, that were to be the ministers of his just displeasure; and whereas, Eze 10:3, the cherubims stood as servants waiting, here Christ stands as a Lord commanding; they obey him, he obeys his Father.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. went innot into thetemple, but between the cherubim. Ezekiel sets aside the Jews’ boastof the presence of God with them. The cherubim, once the ministers ofgrace, are now the ministers of vengeance. When “commanded,”He without delay obeys (Psa 40:8;Heb 10:7).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And it came to pass, [that] when he had commanded the man clothed with linen,…. After the orders were given by him that was upon the throne to the man thus described:
saying, take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubim; as in Eze 10:2;
then he went in; immediately, into the place where the wheels and cherubim were; even under the firmament of heaven, and the throne that was in it:
and stood beside the wheels, or “wheel”; to see what it was, as Kimchi thinks; or rather in order to go in between them, as he was bid to do,
Eze 10:2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Here the Prophet teaches the end of the vision. The Jews thought that they should always be safe and secure under God’s presence; they thought that the sacred fire on the altar availed for the expiation of all wickedness. But God showed that he so resided in the temple that he clothed himself with wrath against them, and that the cherubim were keepers of his arms by which they were at length to be destroyed. We see, therefore, that this false and perverse glowing by which the Jews were intoxicated was cut from under them, since they thought that God was in some way bound to themselves exclusively. Hence the angel is ordered to take fire and to sprinkle it about the city, that it may be destroyed by the burning. But this was necessary, because the Jews, while they for a long time obstinately abused the forbearance of God, could not be induced to repent by any fear of his wrath. For this reason this vision was shown to the Prophet. Then he says that fire was given, but whence was it taken? it was, says he, in the midst of the cherubim. When David prays to God, he makes mention of the cherubim, (Psa 80:1,) by which a more familiar access is laid open, and deservedly so; because God, when inviting the faithful to himself, as if he stretched forth his hands to them, had angels at hand who brought him in contact with men. Now the Prophet teaches, that God’s presence was of no use to the Jews, because he was in arms for their destruction; and the cherubim, who were formerly ministers of his grace, were now at hand to execute his vengeance, since they extend fire from hand to hand for the conflagration of the whole city. For he says, that he was come who was clad in linen garments, and stood near the wheels, by which words he signifies, that angels were thoroughly prepared to obey God’s commands in every particular. In men there is great delay and even languor; but the Prophet assures us, that angels were ready for the performance of their duty. As soon as God shows them what he wishes to be done, they have their hands extended, and thus they are prepared to execute his will. For this reason he says, that they stood near the wheels It follows —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
6. Take fire Fire symbolizes God’s purity. “What really destroys the town is the destructive holiness of Jehovah.” Orelli.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And it came about that when he commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim,” he went in and stood beside a wheel, and the cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took of it, and put it into the hands of the one who was clothed with linen, who took it and went out.’
Here again we have typical ancient Near Eastern repetition, where a previous statement is emphasised and expanded. It occurs regularly throughout the Old Testament and has often confused modern readers into assuming twofold sources, but the purpose of it was to assist the hearer to remember the important points of the narrative or to emphasis the particular point. They could not look back to what had been previously stated and were helped by being reminded of it.
Again we are reminded that Yahweh commanded the man clothed with linen to take fire from within the whirling wheels (‘the whirlers’) between the cherubim. So the man obediently went in and stood beside one of the wheels, which was whirling round and full of eyes (Eze 10:12), a symbol of divine activity and omniscience.
‘The cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim.’ This may mean the cherub connected with that wheel, or as suggested in Eze 10:2 the anointed Cherub, but either way it reveals that even the angel was limited in how close he could come to the throne. The cherubim guarded the holiness of God.
And ‘the cherub’ then reached in and took fire and placed it in the hands of the man, ‘who took it and went out’. Nothing further is heard of the man clothed with linen. He disappears from the picture. The time of their scattering over the city was not yet here. We are just left to assume that he carried out his grim task for Ezekiel is wholly taken up with the glory before him. The concentration in this passage is on Yahweh deserting His temple.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Eze 10:6 And it came to pass, [that] when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.
Ver. 6. When he had commanded the man. ] Christ as mediator was at his Father’s command. Mat 12:18 Joh 14:31 ; Joh 15:10
Then he went in and stood beside the wheels.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Eze 10:6-8
6It came about when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim, he entered and stood beside a wheel. 7Then the cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire which was between the cherubim, took some and put it into the hands of the one clothed in linen, who took it and went out. 8The cherubim appeared to have the form of a man’s hand under their wings.
Eze 10:6 Take fire from between the whirling wheels and from between the Cherubim The VERB (BDB 542, KB 534, Qal IMPERATIVE) is the fourth command to this angelic being (cf. Eze 10:2). This is obviously a reference to the burning coals, which represent God’s holiness.
Eze 10:7-8; Eze 10:11-12; Eze 10:14 The full description of the Cherubim is given in Eze 1:5-14.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
the wheels = the wheel. Hebrew ‘ophan. See note on Eze 10:2
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Eze 10:2, Psa 80:1, Psa 99:1
Reciprocal: Psa 119:60 – made Eze 9:2 – and one Eze 10:7 – unto the
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 10:6. Upon being commanded to get the fire, the man with the ink-horn entered the place containing the wheels.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
The man dressed in linen entered among the wheels of the cherubim to collect coals of fire. He stood beside one of the wheels. One of the cherubim then put some coals of fire that it had taken from between the cherubim and placed them in the man’s hands. The man then went out of the cherubim’s presence with the coals in his hands (cf. 2Ki 23:4-9). Ezekiel saw again that the cherubim had what looked like human hands under their wings (Eze 1:8). Perhaps he mentioned this to clarify how the cherub could pick up coals and place them in the man’s hand.