Ezekiel's cherub in Eden
The cherub in Eden is a figure mentioned in Ezekiel 28:13–14. Many translations, including the New International Version, identify the cherub with the King of Tyre, specifically Ithobaal III (reigned 591–573 BC) who according to the list of kings of Tyre of Josephus was reigning contemporary with Ezekiel at the time of the first fall of Jerusalem.[1][2] Other translations, including the New Revised Standard Version, see the cherub as the king's guardian.
Background
Ezekiel has cited Eden in two extensive passages and one of these (28:11-19) portrayed the king of Tyre in terms of the cherub in Eden.[3] The city is famed for the temple complex of Melkart with its renowned garden enclosure.[4]
Tertullian
Tertullian in Against Marcion 2:10 linked the reference to the fall of Satan.[5] This has been followed by many Christians since.[6] Its theological interpretation is subject to much theorizing. One recognized that the prophet depicted such cherub within a primordial perfection, which was terminated by sin and consequent exile from the "mountain of God".[3] A theory also posited that Eden was a simile for the portrayal of the splendor of a given geographical area, which in this case is Tyre and that its human king represented Satan, who was an angel in the garden in Genesis 3.[4]
See also
References
- ^ The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament, John F. Walvoord, Walter L. Baker, Roy B. Zuck - 1985. Ezekiel had prophesied against the whole city; he was now singling out the city's leader for a special word from God. This ruler then was Ethbaal III, who ruled from 591-590 bc to 573-572 bc The underlying sin of Tyre's king was his ...
- ^ Ezekiel p. 249 Brandon Fredenburg - 2002 EZEKIEL 28 Indictment and Sentence against Tyre's Ruler (28:1-10) This oracle indicts (w. 2-5) and sentences (w. ... All that was true of the city-state has been concentrated into the description of the ruler of Tyre, Ethbaal III.
- ^ a b Chou, Abner (2016). What Happened in the Garden: The Reality and Ramifications of the Creation and Fall of Man. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications. p. 136. ISBN 9780825442094.
- ^ a b Alexander, Ralph H. (2017-03-07). Ezekiel. Zondervan. ISBN 9780310531883.
- ^ "Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. III : Against Marcion, Book II".
- ^ The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament, p. 1283 John F. Walvoord, Walter L. Baker, Roy B. Zuck - 1985 "This "king" had appeared in the Garden of Eden (v. 13), had been a guardian cherub (v. 14a), had possessed free access ... The best explanation is that Ezekiel was describing Satan who was the true "king" of Tyre, the one motivating."