8 myths
Myths, legends, and mystical writings about Cherubim from across Jewish tradition.
8 myths on JewishMythology.com retell how Jewish tradition imagines cherubim, drawn from the Hebrew Bible, Midrash, Talmud, Kabbalah, and later Jewish literature. Each story below synthesizes primary sources into a single narrative; follow any myth to read it, and from there into the source passages behind it.
The Ark traveled three days ahead of the camp and burned the snakes out of the road. The gold cherubim on its lid had the faces of boys.
Two cherubim and a turning sword of fire stand east of Eden. They are not bolting the gate. They are guarding the way to the tree of life.
The doorposts were still shaking when he decided he was a dead man. Then one of the burning ones came down at him carrying a pair of tongs.
Bezalel's name rang in heaven before he touched acacia. He alone built the ark, a shade where the Shekhinah, the Divine Presence, would rest between cherubim.
A dead soul faces Adam at Machpelah, the flaming sword at Eden, and the climb toward Arabot where the righteous become angels.
East of Eden two cherubim hold creative mercy and royal judgment while a flaming sword turns, and Torah replaces the Tree of Life.
Night after night the Shekhinah, the Divine Presence, descends to the empty Holy of Holies, calling for the husband who vowed never to leave her arms.
Moses stepped into the finished Tent, and a Voice that could shatter cedars narrowed to a stream and entered no ear in the camp but his.
