1 Kings 6:23

23. Made two cherubim The cherubim were composite images significant of all forms of creature life, and symbols of the living presence of Jehovah in all departments of the animal world. Their form is described in the opening vision of Ezekiel. Ezekiel 1:5-11. Each cherub had four faces and four wings, and every part of their appearance seems to have been symbolical of some aspect or manifestation of Divine energy and power in creature life. Ezekiel’s magnificent picture may have added somewhat to the form of the cherubim in the temple, but in all essential particulars they were doubtless substantially the same. The probable form of one of these cherubim is presented in the annexed cut, the eagle face being out of sight. It is evident from their great size that these cherubim were not substituted, as some have thought, for the old cherubim that stood upon the ends of the mercyseat, (Exodus 25:18,) for these stood ten cubits apart, while the mercyseat was only two and a half cubits long. These cherubim were therefore additional to the smaller and older ones on the ark, and overshadowed them by their vast wings, which reached across the entire oracle. The smaller cherubs looked towards each other over the mercyseat. (Exodus 25:20;) these greater ones stood with their faces towards the house, (2 Chronicles 3:13, margin;) that is, the human face, as chief and representative of all, looked towards the greater house, the holy place before the vail.

Olive tree Or, tree of oil, meaning, perhaps, the wild olive, whose wood is hard and solid, with a fine grain and a pleasing yellowish tint.