Ezekiel 11:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The cherubim spread their wings, accompanied by the wheels, while the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them. Gradually, the glory of the Lord ascended from the heart of the city and came to rest on the hill that lies east of Jerusalem. Bit by bit, the Lord’s glory withdrew from the holy city. Initially, it departed from the temple and paused in the courtyard or at the threshold of the house, then moved to the eastern gate, and ultimately, with wings raised and in the company of wheels, it settled over the mountain east of the city, which surely refers to the Mount of Olives—the place from which the Savior ascended to His Father.

When these words were uttered, the prophet relayed that the Cherubim, who carry the divine glory, left the city and stationed themselves on the mountain overlooking Jerusalem. This mountain, known as the Mount of Olives, is the site of our Savior’s bodily ascension. Thus, it is fitting that He, having appeared in human likeness and revealed both divine and human natures in one being, showed the divine nature through fire and represented the human nature as electrum. After declaring judgment upon Jerusalem, He withdrew to this mountain and ascended to heaven from there. Even following His crucifixion and death, He once more pronounced judgment on Jerusalem, stating that not one stone would remain upon another that would not be cast down.