Exodus 25:18

25:18 You are to make two cherubim ¹  of gold; you are to make them of hammered metal on the two ends of the atonement lid.

Exodus 25:36

25:36 Their buds and their branches will be one piece, ²  all of it one hammered piece of pure gold.

Exodus 37:22

37:22 Their buds and their branches were of one piece; ³  all of it was one hammered piece of pure gold.

Exodus 37:29

37:29 He made the sacred anointing oil and the pure fragrant incense, the work of a perfumer.

[25:18]  ¹ tn The evidence suggests that the cherubim were composite angelic creatures that always indicated the nearness of God. So here images of them were to be crafted and put on each end of the ark of the covenant to signify that they were there. Ezekiel 1 describes four cherubim as each having human faces, four wings, and parts of different animals for their bodies. Traditions of them appear in the other cultures as well. They serve to guard the holy places and to bear the throne of God. Here they were to be beaten out as part of the lid.

[25:36]  ² tn Heb “will be from it.”

[37:22]  ³ tn Heb “were from it.”