Exodus 25:19
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Exodus 25:19
19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
Chapter Context
Exodus 25 is a narrative with legal sections chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of salvation, creation, wisdom. Written during the Egyptian bondage and wilderness wandering (c. 1446-1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Egypt was the dominant superpower with a complex polytheistic religion and a god-king pharaoh.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-40: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it reveals key aspects of God's character through divine actions and declarations. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Exodus and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Exodus 25:19
19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
Analysis
The cherubim are positioned at the two ends of the mercy seat, one on each side, creating symmetry and completeness. Their placement at the extremities shows that God's holiness fully surrounds and guards the place of mercy. Yet they are 'of one piece' with it (v.18), demonstrating that holiness and mercy are not contradictory but united in God's character and Christ's atoning work.
Historical Context
The cherubim's positions on opposite ends created a space between them where God's glory would manifest (the Shekinah). This arrangement formed a throne with living guardians, emphasizing both God's majesty and approachability through atonement.
Reflection
- How do holiness and mercy unite rather than contradict in God's character?
- What does the symmetry of the cherubim teach about the completeness of Christ's atonement?