Genesis and Semitic tradition . ommended by a recent writer who signs himself v. F.(ZA., vol. i, 68-70). None other of the Assyriologists,he says further, who know the collection of M. deClercq, has confirmed the news ; and he concludes hisnote on the subject with the remark that, so long asnothing authentic is known in regard to the amuletwhich is at present in the possession of M. de Clercq,we must acknowledge that proof has not been furnishedof the employment of the word kirubu to designate theAssyrian bull divinities. Boscawen seeks to identify the scorpion men, aqrabu-amelu, who guarded t
Genesis and Semitic tradition . ommended by a recent writer who signs himself v. F.(ZA., vol. i, 68-70). None other of the Assyriologists,he says further, who know the collection of M. deClercq, has confirmed the news ; and he concludes hisnote on the subject with the remark that, so long asnothing authentic is known in regard to the amuletwhich is at present in the possession of M. de Clercq,we must acknowledge that proof has not been furnishedof the employment of the word kirubu to designate theAssyrian bull divinities. Boscawen seeks to identify the scorpion men, aqrabu-amelu, who guarded the waywhich Izdubar was obliged topass, with the cherubim ofGenesis (B. and O. Record,vol. iii., 145 seq.). The dutieswhich devolved upon theaqrabu-men and the cherubimare somewhat similar, but thenames are not akin. Aqrabu, nipy, etc., have no etymo-logical connection with ST1D. 1 Delitzsch holds also that the seven demons of Babylonian mythology are in last analysis identical with the bull divinities and are repeatedly called. THE CHERUBIM 81 So much as to the efforts made to lind the counterpart ofthe Hebrew cherubim in Babylonian thought and art. Butwhat were they in themselves? What was their nature?Cheyne sees hi the cherub a form of speech retainedfrom myth-making times, and meaning the storm-cloudor (as Professor Tiele suggests) the cloud masses whichBeem to guard the portals of the sky, and on which thesun god appears to issue forth at break of day (Proph-ecies of Isaiah, vol. i., p. 115, ii., 298). Now if cherubis a common noun and means storm-cloud—a naturalobject to which Semitic nature worshippers would, ofcourse, at once ascribe a spirit—the imagery of thepsalmist is satisfied when he says : Thick darkness wasunder his feet and he rode upon a cherub and did i\y ; yea,he flewT swiftly upon the wings of the wind (Ps. ). If it means storm-cloud, much that is predicatedof the cherubim is also met; for the storm-cloud movesthrough space, could bear the vi
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