Page 19 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

CHAPTER I. 13

had their faces and their wings. Their wings were
joined one to another; they turned not when they
went; they went everyone straight forward.” (Yer.
6—9.) The likeness of a man was theirs, though
each had four faces and four wings (ver. 6) ; but the
feet were straight, the sole like that of a calf’s foot,
and the face of an ox answering to that of a cherub.
(Yer. 7; compare also chap. x. 14.) Activity, or apt­
ness in doing, seems represented by the hands of a
man ; swiftness of execution from above in the wings,
without a moment’s deviation from the object in band,
and with four sides so as to move in all directions.
The intimation of verse 10 I take to be that in front
the face of a man was seen, and that of an eagle
behind, with a lion’s face to the right and an ox’s or
steer’s to the left.* These compose the symbolical
supports of the throne, being the heads of the creatures
preserved in the ark from the flood; man setting forth
intelligence, the lion strength, the ox patience or
stability, and the eagle rapidity of execution, the
attributes of God or the qualities of His judgments.
“ As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the
face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right
side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left
side ; they four also had the face of an eagle. Thus
were their faces : and their wings were stretched up­
ward ; two wings of every one were joined one^to
another, and two covered their bodies. And they went
every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to
* Some consider it to mean that the four faces had the same
aspect, the man and lion on the right, and the ox and eagle on
the left.