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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - 2 Chronicles 3:10 - 3:10
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The figures of the cherubim are called צַעֲצֻעִים מַעֲשֵׂה, sculpture work. The ἁπ. λεγ.. צעצעים comes from צוּעַ, Arab. ṣâǵ, formavit, finxit, and signifies sculptures. The plur. יְצַפּוּ, “they overlaid them,” is indefinite. The length of the wings was five cubits, and the four outspread wings extended across the whole width of the most holy place from one wall to the other. The repetition of the clauses הָאַהֵר הַכְּרוּב...הָאֶהָד כְּנַף (2Ch 3:11, 2Ch 3:12) has a distributive force: the top of one wing of each cherub reached the wall of the house, that of the other wing reached the wing of the other cherub standing by. In the repetition the masc. מַגִּיעַ alternates with the fem. מַגַּעַת, being construed in a freer way as the principal gender with the fem. כָּנָף, and also with דְּבֵקָה, adhaerebat, in the last clause. - In 2Ch 3:12 Bertheau would strike out the word כַּנְפֵי because it does not suit פֹּרְשִׂים, which occurs in 1Ch 28:17; 2Ch 5:8; 1Ki 8:7, in the transitive signification, “to stretch out the wings.” But nothing is gained by that, for we must then supply the erased word after פֹּרְשִׂים again. And, moreover, the succeeding clause is introduced by וְהֵם, just because in the first clause the wings, and not the cherubim, were the subject. We hold the text to be correct, and translate: “the wings of these cherubim were, for they stretched them out, twenty cubits.” וְהֵם refers to הַכְּרוּבִים. They stood upon their feet, consequently upright, and were, according to 1Ki 6:26, ten cubits high. “And their faces towards the house,” i.e., turned towards the holy place, not having their faces turned towards each other, as was the case with the cherubim upon the Capporeth (Exo 25:20).