יחזקאל, פרק מ״א, פסוק י״ח

The interior walls of the Temple featured a striking harmony of animal and plant life, forming a highly detailed, symmetrical pattern. Cedar wood panels lined the space, intricately carved with these symbolic shapes, echoing the design originally found in Solomon's Temple [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. Over these wooden carvings, a layer of gold was hammered into place. The gold plating carefully followed the dips and curves of the wood beneath it, allowing the figures to stand out clearly against the glowing walls [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד].

The primary figures adorning the space were cherubim. The term itself relates to an Aramaic word for a flawless baby or young child, which was reflected in their facial appearance [מצודת ציון, אברבנאל]. Although these figures possessed animal features as well, they were known as cherubim because their central body structure was human [מצודת דוד]. Alongside these figures were carvings of palm trees [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The arrangement on the walls was highly precise, with a single palm tree positioned to separate every two cherubim.

The most striking characteristic of the cherubim was their dual nature, as each figure had two distinct faces: one of a human and one of a young lion [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. These faces looked in completely opposite directions. The human face gazed toward the palm tree standing on one side, while the young lion faced the palm tree standing on the other side [רש״י, אברבנאל]. This specific pairing of human and lion faces subtly recalls the heavenly creatures seen in the earlier prophetic vision of the Divine Chariot [מלבי״ם].

Within the context of the prophet's vision, the progress of the Temple's construction was clearly visible. The carving of these cherubim and palm trees was completely finished from the floor up to the space just above the doorway, even as the rest of the building's designs were still in the planning and measuring stages, yet to be physically crafted [מלבי״ם].