9:5 cherubim of glory. The “mercy seat,” comprising the lid of the ark, had on it two figures of cherubim facing each other, representative of God’s heavenly courtiers, who serve constantly in His presence.

Of these things . . . cannot now speak in detail. First-century Jewish writers such as Philo gave great attention to the symbolism of the sanctuary furniture. The author of Hebrews, however, desires to address what took place in the tabernacle, and he says no more about the furniture, whatever symbolic value it might have.