GENESIS 3:24 the cherub with the flaming sword.

This blog is about a connection between the description of the cherubim mentioned in Ezekiel 10:14 and the banners of the tribes of Yisrael mentioned in Numbers 2. This connection has an impact on the narrative of Genesis 3.

The Cherubim and the flaming sword.

Genesis 3:24

NIV: "After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life."

ESV: "He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life."

KJV: "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."

NASB: "So He drove the man out; and at the east of the Garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life."

At the close of the Garden of Eden story, after the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the garden, YHWH Elohim stations the Cherubim and the "flame of the whirling sword" (lahat hahereb hammithappeket) to guard the way to the Tree of Life. The Cherubim are familiar mythological creatures: they figure as part of the iconography of the Ark. (Exodus 25:18-22; 37:7-9; Numbers 7:89 etc.) YHWH is said to be enthroned on them (1Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2) , and indeed YHWH is said to fly upon one (2 Samuel 22:11 = Psalm 18:11).

The lahat hahereb hammithappeket on the other hand is a less familiar item.

When i researched the Genesis 3:24 verse i found some articles and essays wich i will share here.

https://www.spiritandtruth.org/questions/116.htm?x=x

https://www.godawa.com/chronicles_of_the_nephilim/Articles_By_Others/Hendel-The_Flame_of_the_Whirling_Sword.pdf

Although there are some excellent things to learn from these, there is something, i think, that is not clearly adressed.

The following diagram is from www.hooper-home.net/TEMPLE/BannersTribalIsrael.html.

Here you see the way the tribes of Yisrael were stationed around the tabernacle.

But, you say, this is not found in Scripture.

Yet it is, and here is the link to an article about this issue.

http://www.biblefragrances.com/studies/fourbanners.html

Remember that even the Nature of the Godhead is understood by searching the Scriptures.

The Bible is a hyperlinked book and when we use the tools of hermeneutics correctly we can arrive at an truthful exegesis.

And we have the rules of PARDES.

This is a way of interpretating the Bible that was used by the Gospel writers as well.

http://www.yashanet.com/studies/revstudy/pardes.htm

Now back to what i read when i read about the Cherub with the flaming sword guiding the way to the Tree of Life.

I read that the nation of Yisrael will be the guard to the Tree of Life, and they guard it while preserving the Word of God a.k.a. the TeNaCh a.k.a. "the Old Testament".

The TeNaCH is a flaming sword because it (also) points us to our sinful nature.

(Romans 10:4) (Gal. 3:19)

Christ, the Tree of Life is the "telos" i.e. "endgoal" of the Torah.

The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. (Eph. 6:17).

Here you see the way the tribes of Yisrael were stationed around the tabernacle. But, you say, this is not found in Scripture.