Bobzammel

The Cherubim--apparentally a class of angels who are pretty much guardians of sacred places and spots-are potrayed in the Old Testament as having the bodies of animals, the head of a man, and wings.

Now the main problem with this is that such a description is very, very similar to Egyptian, and even more closely Assyrian--statues. Take the Sphinx for instance, or the many statues in Assyria potraying creatures with the *exact* same attributes.


So here we have another case it appears, of "borrowing" between cultures and not divine intervention....

Marduk

I think it is the Seraphim type of angel that has those characteristics, a Cherub was the spinning thing that blocked the gates to Eden after A & E got evicted. But I woudn't be suprised if they were interchangeable. I've read where the true meanings of these words were lost to antiquity but Cherubim and Seraphim may at one time have meant thunder and lightning.
The other stuff is probably true, there were stone carvings of Lilith found in ancient Mesopotamia, she had lizard feet.
I'm sure the various extra-biblical Midrash & Rabbinic commentary have something to say about her and the angels. (they had 3 pair of wings, one to fly, one to cover their 'private parts' and another to hide their faces.
The seraphim also had four faces, man lion bird bull IIRC.

missus_gumby

Here's every mention of cherubim in the OT:

Old Testament - Cherubim

1. Genesis 3:24 - Some Cherubim know where the eastern section of the garden of Eden is.
2. Exodus 25:20 - There are two gold cherubim carved small enough to fit on the ark of the covenant. They have wings, and faces.
3. Exodus 26:01 - Images of cherubim are woven into curtains.
4. 1Kings 6:23 - Large cherubim can be made of olive wood, covered in gold.
5. 1Kings 6:29 - Images of cherubim can be carved into walls.
6. 1Kings 6:32 - Images of cherubim can be carved into doors, and can be covered with gold.
7. 1Kings 7:29 - Images of cherubim can be incorporated into the borders of a 'molten sea'.
8. 1Kings 7:36 - ...and onto the plates of the ledges of the 'molten sea'.
9. 2Kings 19:15 - Hezekiah says that God dwells between cherubim.
10. 2Chronicles 3:13 - Images of Cherubim have feet.
11. Psalms 18:10 - God is small enough to ride on a cherub. Cherubs can fly.
12. Ezekiel 10:01 - Cherubim have heads.
13. Ezekiel 10:03 - Cherubim can stand.
14. Ezekiel 10:05 - Cherubim wings make a sound.
15. Ezekiel 10:07 - Cherubs have at least one hand, which is fireproof.
16. Ezekiel 10:08 - Cherubim can grow hands under their wings.
17. Ezekiel 10:20 - Cherubim are living creatures.
18. Ezekiel 28:14 - Cherubs have been to the holy mountain of God at least once and walked up and down it.
19. Ezekiel 41:18 - Images of cherubs can have two faces, a man and a lion.

They are only mentioned in the NT in passing -- as ornaments on the ark of the covenant.

Martin

Amos

. . . to show the victory and coronation of Mary as the Queen of the New Heaven and Earth. The other is Christ and they were the cherub and fiery revolving sword stationned at the gate when we first left Eden. They are now in charge of our destiny in Eden and throughout NEW TESTAMENT eternity.

Strawberry

I was always told (by my fundie family, who don't always know what the hell the Bibble says) that cherubim were baby angels, seraphim were grown-up angels, and archangels were seraphim that God especially liked. Sounds so mushy compared to the lion-lizard thing. I'm hoping that Sphinx idea wins out, because it's kind of ironically fitting that such an implausible, destructive god would employ creatures that are absurd compilations of a bunch of vicious predators.

Jimmy Higgins

Wow! God is just looking for trouble. He sent baby angels "to guard the way to the tree of life"? Genesis 3:24
Worst yet, he leaves them a "flaming sword" which points in "every way". Those poor cherubim. Don't even have a chance. Probably sliced themselves while playing on the very pointy flaming sword.

Proof again that a bunch of christians have no clue about their own religion. Oh well.