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An interesting phrase occurs in Ezekiel 28:14:
and again in verse 16:
What does this phrase "stones of fire" mean? Are there any parallel passages or outside sources that shed light on it? In what way is it associated with the holy mountain of God? |
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Ezekiel 28:14 in the Masoretic text and the Allepo Codex are identical. The Cambridge New English Bible (1970) translates the verse as "I set you with a towering cherub as guardian; you were on God's holy hill and you walked proudly among stones that flashed with fire" and in 16, "stones that flashed like fire". A. S. Hartom's Hebrew commentary (published 1953) of Umberto Cassuto's Masoretic text translates the literal Hebrew "stones of fire" as "sparkling stones" (in modern Hebrew), that is, cut gemstones, a continuation of the imagery from the previous verse. The unattributed translation of 28:14 in the OP is overall much closer to the original Hebrew text than the translation in the Cambridge New English Bible, however it's "stones of fire" is probably too literal a translation and gives the impression of a proper name that would have been known to the contemporary reader, which I believe it is not. This might be a simple literal translation in a case where the translator was at a loss. The imagery of the anointed cherub would be familiar to the contemporary reader as the gold plated cherubs in the holy of holies of the Temple in Jerusalem whose wings over arched the ark of the covenant. "Over arched" might be a better translation than the "guardian" of the OP translation. The "holy mountain of God" is also a contemporary term for the hill above the city of David where the Temple once was. The only Temple imagery that includes sparkling stones is the image of the Urim and Tumim breastplate worn by the high priest that includes many of the stones mentioned in verse 13. The Urim and Tumim had twelve stones representing the twelve tribes and was used to make inquiries of the divine will. The stones were said to flash with a fiery light in accordance with the answer to a question. This image is supported by the first word of verse 15, "tamim" (innocent or without blemish), an oronym of "thumim" based on the same root, which though not used in 14, might be being suggested by the imagery. Yehoshua Brand in Ceramics in Talmudic Literature claims that the "stones of fire" in Ezekiel 28 is one of the OT names for glass and alludes to the immensely lucrative Phoenician glass industry in Tyre. The imagery in 14 is a continuation of the imagery of precious stones from 13. Other names for glass or the glass industry identified by Brand are:
[Translation of references not completed - ER] The Temple imagery in 28:14 could be allusion to parallel images in Tyre; the anointed alluding to the olive oil industry of the area, the unassailable island position of Tyre being like the guardian chrubim, the shrine of Al Mina being likened to the mountain of God, and the glassworks parallel to the Urim and Thumim. If this interpretation is correct, then the prophecy in 28:12-19 is an example of the principle of "measure for measure" (mida k'neged mida). As the rulers of Tyre gloated in the downfall of the beautiful sanctuary in Jerusalem (26:2), so their beautiful commercial sanctuary on Tyre will be destroyed. |
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Ezekiel 28:1-10 seems to apply to the still future beast, Satan's image man. Verses 11-16 seem to apply to Satan alone. Verses 17-19 could apply to both Satan and the Beast. Verse 13 is Eden, God's garden on earth. Verse 14 & 16 has these hot rocks where God"s Holy mountain is. Probably fiery hot because God is there. As a sinner I wouldn't want to try and step where God stepped. Even asbestos shoes wouldn't help much. Satan used to hang around there but he messed up and got thrown out of the Holy mountain and I think the garden too. Satan accuses believers before God until he gets thrown out of heaven completely as shown in Rev. 12. The timing of this exile is when Christ was born on earth as Savior. Now Ezekiel 28 is prophecy but is stated as if it is already a done deal. And so it is when God says something. History is still played out in time though. Satan could accuse before God but still not be on the Holy mountain? Maybe Satan can even be in heaven for a time but not with access to the Holy mountain? God probably don't want the profane critter to get that close to Him until it is his time. Like Johnny Cash sang, "Burning Ring of Fire" ! If God lets me get close enough to Him to walk around on them hot rocks, I hope He gives me plenty of personal protective equipment. No , wait a minute, He did give me that already with His Son. I hope my answer does not sound too corny but I have this funny image of Satan hopping around on these hot rocks trying to hightail it off that mountain. Dragons do have a tail don't they or is it just a figurative appendage ? Can you ask a question in your answer? No wait, strike that as it is another question. |
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Cherubims are Angels Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way , to keep the way of the tree of life. Hebrew 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all ; 4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded , and the tables of the covenant; 5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly . Ezekiel 28 from verse 11 onward is talking about Lucifer (angel) / Satan (fallen angel) The point being Lucifer has been in Eden as an Angel, but What? "iniquity was found in thee." That is a key point. Sure Adam and Eve fell in the garden of God, but they were obviously man. Only Satan became a fallen angel in the garden of God. So verse 11 onward shifts focus to the source of the princes wickedness. Ezekiel 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God;... Ezekiel 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth ; ... Ezekiel 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created , till iniquity was found in thee. The prince of Tyrus was obviously a man, born with a sinful nature, never perfect in his ways. He was already fallen. Ezekiel 28:15 cleary points to an angel. The verse below shows that these Angelic attributes existed from the day of creation. Ezekiel 28:13b ... the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created . In stark contrast to prince of Tyrus who "increased thy riches" ... "By thy great wisdom" see verse 5. Ezekiel 28:5 By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches: Ezekiel 28 talks about the prince of Tyrus and then shifts focus to the source of the sin. |
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The stones of fire refer literally to the tablets of the law and figuratively to the law itself: De 5:22 These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me. De 9:10 And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. Fire represents the Holiness of God which has two aspects, it purifies or destroys. The law has the same two aspects, though we are condemned by it, we can also renew our minds by the washing of the word. An interesting illustration is that of an ancient altar to the Lord. The altar was built with natural stones, not hewn, because the law was given by God, we do not worship God with man-made laws (righteousness). The wood is placed on the stones just as the cross was built upon the law/righteousness of God. Then the sacrifice is placed upon the wood as Christ was placed upon the cross. The sacrifice is fully consumed by the fire even as Christ was fully consumed with obedience to the Father, even unto death. |
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