1 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
4 Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord's glory.
5 And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.
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.
7 And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.
8 And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings.
9 And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone.
10 And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.
11 When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.
12 And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.
13 As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.
14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
15 And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.
17 When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
18 Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims.
21 Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
22 And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.
<html><b>over the heads of the cherubim</b> Over the heads of the four living beings of the Chariot. In this chapter, he switches over to calling them [all] cherubim because the face of the ox was transformed into the face of a cherub, as it is written in this chapter. Our Rabbis said (Chag. 13b): Ezekiel begged for mercy and transformed it to a cherub. He said before Him, “Master of the world, an accuser cannot become a defender.”</html>
<html><b>between the wheels</b> Heb. (בֵּינוֹתלַגַלְגַל) [lit. between the wheel.] Wherever it says, “And he said…and he said,” it is meant only to be expounded upon. The Holy One, blessed be He, told Gabriel [to take the coals], but he [Gabriel] asked the cherub to [take them first and then] give them to him so that the coals would cool and the decree would be mitigated. And this is clearly stated in the chapter (verse 7): “and he picked up [the fire] and gave [it] into the hands of the one clothed in linen.” <b>and cast [them] upon the city</b> He did not cast them immediately, and although the one clothed in linen received them, he did not cast them until six years after he had received them, for the coals were smoldering in his hand for all the six years. And you should know [that this is true] because this prophecy was said in the sixth year, and the city was destroyed in the eleventh year.</html>
<html><b>at the right of the House</b> In the south [of the Temple]. <b>the inner court</b> This is the Temple court.</html>
<html><b>onto the threshold of the House</b> That is the very [stage of] evacuation mentioned above (9:3).</html>
<html><b>until the outer court</b> The Temple Mount. I may think that [it was heard no further] because the sound was low. Therefore, Scripture states: “like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks.” Yet, when it would reach the outer court, it would [suddenly] stop.</html>
<html><b>and behold four wheels</b> Since one of the faces was changed, it was necessary to repeat here the entire account of the living beings as at first, so that you should not say that it is another Chariot.</html>
<html><b>and their hubs</b> Heb. וִידֵיהֶם of the wheels. They are the hole in which the [axle of the] chariot turns, called boyol, nave, hub. Jonathan, however, renders: וְאֲשְּׁדַתְהוֹן, and their pourings. <b>to their four wheels</b> To the four wheels of the living beings.</html>
<html><b>to them was called hagalgal to my ears</b> I heard that the angel would call the wheel “galgal.” <b>was called hagalgal</b> to them was called the name “galgal.”</html>
<html><b>the face of one was the face of the cherub</b> That was the face of the ox, which was transformed into a cherub.</html>
<html><b>at the entrance of the…gate of the House of the Lord</b> The entrance of the heichal. <b>the eastern</b> Heb. הַקַדְמוֹנִי, that is in the east. This was the second stage of the evacuation, from the threshold of the Holy of Holies to the court.</html>
<html><b>It was the living being</b> Since I saw in this Chariot the entire phenomenon of the first Chariot, I say “[It] is the one I saw by the river Chebar.” <b>and I knew</b> that the face of the ox was transformed into the face of a cherub, and there were in it two faces of man: a small face of a child and a large face of a man.</html>