496 
CHERUBIM. 
cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the 
uttermost part of the one wing, to the uttermost part of the other, 
were ten cubits. And the other cherub was ten cubits, and so 
was it of the other cherub. And he set the cherubim within the 
inner house ; and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubim, 
so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing 
of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings 
touched one another in the midst of the house. And he over¬ 
laid the cherubim with gold. And he carved all the walls of the 
house round about, with carved figures of cherubim, and palm- 
trees, and open flowers, within and without.” 1 Kings, chap. vi. 
from verse 23 to verse 29. “ And the wings of the two cheru¬ 
bim spread themselves forth twenty cubits; and they stood on 
their feet, and their faces were inward.” 2 Chronicles, chap, 
iii. verse 13. The succeeding description is from the prophetic 
books: 
“ In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sit¬ 
ting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the 
temple. Above it stood the seraphim : each one had six wings : 
with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his 
feet, and with twain he did fly.” Isaiah, chap. vi. verses 1, 2. 
Indeed, wings appear to have been the peculiar attribute of mi¬ 
nistering spirits, being symbolical of their offices as divine mes¬ 
sengers or agents ; and, as a parallel instance in the pagan mytho¬ 
logy, we find that Mercury and Cupid only, possess any; the 
one being the messenger of Jove, the other, the busy agent of 
Venus. 
At the distance of about a mile from the temple of the bas-re¬ 
lief, to the south-west, stand the remains of what the people of 
the country call a caravansary. Some appearances evidence that 
