over the heads of the cherubim Over the heads of the four living beings of the Chariot. In this chapter, he switches over to calling them [all] cherubim because the face of the ox was transformed into the face of a cherub, as it is written in this chapter. Our Rabbis said (Chag. 13b): Ezekiel begged for mercy and transformed it to a cherub. He said before Him, “Master of the world, an accuser cannot become a defender.”

between the wheels Heb. (בֵּינוֹת לַגַלְגַל) [lit. between the wheel.] Wherever it says, “And he said...and he said,” it is meant only to be expounded upon. The Holy One, blessed be He, told Gabriel [to take the coals], but he [Gabriel] asked the cherub to [take them first and then] give them to him so that the coals would cool and the decree would be mitigated. And this is clearly stated in the chapter (verse 7): “and he picked up [the fire] and gave [it] into the hands of the one clothed in linen.”

and cast [them] upon the city He did not cast them immediately, and although the one clothed in linen received them, he did not cast them until six years after he had received them, for the coals were smoldering in his hand for all the six years. And you should know [that this is true] because this prophecy was said in the sixth year, and the city was destroyed in the eleventh year.

at the right of the House In the south [of the Temple].

the inner court This is the Temple court.

onto the threshold of the House That is the very [stage of] evacuation mentioned above (9:3).

until the outer court The Temple Mount. I may think that [it was heard no further] because the sound was low. Therefore, Scripture states: “like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks.” Yet, when it would reach the outer court, it would [suddenly] stop.

and behold four wheels Since one of the faces was changed, it was necessary to repeat here the entire account of the living beings as at first, so that you should not say that it is another Chariot.

and their hubs Heb. וִידֵיהֶם of the wheels. They are the hole in which the [axle of the] chariot turns, called boyol, nave, hub. Jonathan, however, renders: וְאֲשְּׁדַתְהוֹן, and their pourings.

to their four wheels To the four wheels of the living beings.

to them was called hagalgal to my ears I heard that the angel would call the wheel “galgal.”

was called hagalgal to them was called the name “galgal.”

the face of one was the face of the cherub That was the face of the ox, which was transformed into a cherub.

at the entrance of the...gate of the House of the Lord The entrance of the heichal.

the eastern Heb. הַקַדְמוֹנִי, that is in the east. This was the second stage of the evacuation, from the threshold of the Holy of Holies to the court.

It was the living being Since I saw in this Chariot the entire phenomenon of the first Chariot, I say “[It] is the one I saw by the river Chebar.”

and I knew that the face of the ox was transformed into the face of a cherub, and there were in it two faces of man: a small face of a child and a large face of a man.