יחזקאל, פרק כ״ח, פסוק י״ד

A profound prophecy directed at the King of Tyre presents a sharp contrast between his glorious, privileged past and the deep pride that eventually consumed his heart. To illustrate the absolute peak of his power, his reign is described through vivid imagery drawn from the Temple, angels, and the heavens. The king is likened to a majestic cherub to express his supreme status and authority. This cherub is understood in various ways: as a high-ranking angel [שטיינזלץ], an important figure with a youthful appearance [מצודת ציון], a massive bird [רש"י], or even the emblem flown on the king's own flag [מלבי"ם]. His greatness is defined either by his sheer size and power [רש"י, רד"ק, מצודת ציון] or by a sense of sacred anointing, much like the anointing of kings or the Temple cherubs crafted from oil-yielding wood [מלבי"ם, רד"ק]. Just as the cherubs spread their wings to shield the Ark of the Covenant, the king is portrayed as a guardian extending his protective reach over his people [רד"ק, מצודות], his wide wingspan symbolizing his vast and absolute control [רש"י, שטיינזלץ].

Despite his immense power, the king is reminded that his greatness was not self-made but a direct gift from God [רד"ק, מצודות]. The primary approach among commentators links his placement on a holy mountain to the shared history between Tyre and Israel, specifically referencing Mount Moriah or Mount Zion. This serves as a reminder of the historical merit of his predecessor, King Hiram, who faithfully assisted David and Solomon in building the Temple by supplying cedar wood [רש"י, רד"ק, מצודת דוד, מלבי"ם]. At the same time, this imagery captures the king's own inflated sense of superiority. Surrounded by his own wisdom, wealth, and unmatched military and economic success, he began to live in a reality of his own making, viewing himself as an all-powerful, supreme being [שטיינזלץ].

This grand illusion is further highlighted by the image of the king walking among stones of fire. In a historical and political sense, these fiery stones represent the kings of Israel or the Israelites themselves. The King of Tyre once walked alongside them in a close, loving alliance, viewing them as brilliant, shining stones or ministering angels [רש"י, רד"ק, מצודת דוד]. On a spiritual level, the imagery suggests a presence among celestial bodies or heavenly beings [רד"ק, שטיינזלץ]. Some even view this as a vision of the afterlife, where the king is transformed into an angel wandering through the Garden of Eden beneath canopies of jewels that glow like fire [מלבי"ם]. However, a more practical explanation suggests that the king simply enjoyed walking at night among his own radiant precious stones, which emitted a fiery glow. Ultimately, it was this overwhelming material splendor that deluded him into mistakenly believing he was a divine, heavenly being [רד"ק].