The Ten Journeys the Shekhinah Made Leaving the Temple

Another interpretation: Jeremiah [Yirmeyahu] means Ram Yah [exalted is God]. The Shekhinah journeyed ten journeys: from cherub to cherub, from cherub to the threshold of the House, from the threshold of the House to the cherubim, from the cherubim to the eastern gate, from the eastern gate to the court, from the court to the altar, from the altar to the roof, from the roof to the wall, from the wall to the city, from the city to the Mount of Olives. From cherub to cherub: And the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been (Ezekiel 9:3), onto the second cherub. From cherub to the threshold: And the glory of the LORD lifted from the cherub onto the threshold of the House (Ezekiel 10:4). From the threshold to the cherubim: And the glory of the LORD went out from the threshold of the House and stood over the cherubim (Ezekiel 10:18). It says went out, but it should only have said came; rather they offered a parable. To what is the matter like? To a king who was leaving his palace, and he kept kissing the walls and embracing the pillars and saying, Be at peace, my house, be at peace, my palace. So too the Shekhinah kissed the walls and embraced the pillars and said, Be at peace, my house, be at peace, my palace. From the cherubim to the eastern gate: And the cherubim lifted their wings and rose from the earth before my eyes (Ezekiel 10:19). From the eastern gate to the court: And the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD (Ezekiel 10:4). From the court to the altar: I saw the LORD standing upon the altar (Amos 9:1). From the altar to the roof: Better to dwell on the corner of a roof (Proverbs 21:9). From the roof to the wall: Thus He showed me, and behold the LORD was standing upon a wall made by a plumb line (Amos 7:7). From the wall to the city: The voice of the LORD calls to the city (Micah 6:9). From the city to the Mount of Olives: And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood upon the mountain (Ezekiel 11:23). Rabbi Yonatan said: For three and a half years the Shekhinah dwelt upon the Mount of Olives and proclaimed three times each day, saying, Return, backsliding children, I will heal your backslidings (Jeremiah 3:22). And since they did not return, the Shekhinah began to soar in the air and said this verse, I will go and return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; in their distress they will seek Me earnestly (Hosea 5:15).