The lid of the Ark: a plate of pure gold 2.5 amot by 1.5, a tefach thick — chest and lid together make ten tefachim. At its two ends, north and south, two keruvim, hammered out of the very mass of the lid: they rise from it, with no feet or base. They have a child's face, at least a tefach high, and measure ten tefachim. They are turned aside, toward each other and toward the House at once, like a pupil taking leave of his master, inclined toward the lid, wings spread at the level of the heads and a little above, without touching the body, forming a canopy over the kaporet.
Dimensions
- 2.5 × 1.5 amot of pure gold, one tefach thick
- chest + kaporet = 10 tefachim
- two keruvim of 10 tefachim
- face at least one tefach
- ten tefachim of clear space under the wings
Sources
Project decisionAdopted: keruvim with a child's face (Sukkah 5b; Rashi), a boy and a girl embracing. The tour applies to them the embrace of Yoma 54a–b, although the Gemara refers it to the First Temple or to cherubs drawn on the walls. Adopted: Onkelos's sideways faces (Bava Batra 99a, about Shlomo's keruvim), which reconcile “toward each other” (Exodus 25:20) and “toward the House” (II Chronicles 3:13). Set aside: faces turned now toward each other, now toward the House, according to Israel's conduct (Bava Batra 99a); the Rashbam's great birds (on Exodus 25:18). Tour's choice: no feet or base, and wings joined above the lid; Rashi says only that the keruvim are drawn out of its ends and that their wings rise near their heads (on Exodus 25:18 and 25:20). Not shown: Shlomo's standing keruvim, ten amot high (I Kings 6:23–28).