מלכים א, פרק ו׳, פסוק כ״ח

Deep within the Holy of Holies, the construction of the Cherubim reached its final stage when they were covered entirely in gold. This layer of precious metal was not applied merely for decoration. Instead, it served a vital role in completing the exact spatial design of the inner sanctuary.

The original forms of the Cherubim were built precisely to their required measurement of ten cubits each. Only after these initial dimensions were finalized was the gold plating applied over them. Adding this final layer naturally increased the thickness of the wings by a tiny amount. This slight addition in volume explains a detail found in the Book of Chronicles, which notes that the wings of the Cherubim touched one another. Because the original structures were already built to exact measurements, the added layer of gold created an incredibly tight and precise fit. The wings pressed against each other perfectly, leaving absolutely no empty space between them [מלבי״ם].