The Mystery Of The Cherubim

Ravnai said in the name of Shmuel: The cherubim stood by a miracle, as it is said: "And five cubits was the wing of the one cherub, and five cubits the wing of the second cherub, ten cubits from the tips of its wings to the tips of its wings" (1 Kings 6:24). Where were their bodies standing? Rather, learn from this: they stood by a miracle. How did they stand? Rabbi Yochanan and Rabbi Elazar: one said their faces were each toward the other, and one said their faces were toward the House. But according to the one who said their faces were each toward the other, is it not written "and their faces were toward the House" (2 Chronicles 3:13)? It is not difficult: here, at the time when Israel does the will of the Omnipresent; there, at the time when Israel does not do the will of the Omnipresent. And according to the one who said "and their faces were toward the House," is it not written "and their faces were each toward the other" (Exodus 25:20)? They turned their faces to the side, as it was taught: Onkelos the convert said: The cherubim were "of figured work" (2 Chronicles 3:10), and they turned their faces sideways like a student taking leave of his teacher.