The Seven Eyes and the Cherubim

It shall say. The days of the intelligible realm possess greatness and abundance near the sun of righteousness, and this is due to the difference between those being illuminated and the light itself. For when the Lord says concerning the righteous one who 'dwells in the help of the Most High' (Ps 90:14): 'I will fill him with length of days,' we do not say that a long life is promised to the righteous one who desires to 'depart so that he may be with Christ' (2 Cor 5:8), as he says: 'Woe, that my sojourn has been lengthened' (Ps 118:77).

Indeed, history also struggles against such a view, since those honoring parents are not becoming long-lived in every way, it having been said to each: 'Honor your father and your mother, so that it may go well with you and you may be long of years upon the earth which the Lord your God gives you' (Ex 20:12). For one finds those keeping this commandment becoming short-lived and outside of life in a short time.

Therefore, since the spoken word is shown not to have the meaning as many suppose, that which is said in the Psalms concerning length of days, and as elsewhere in the God-breathed Scripture is like: 'He sought life and you gave him length of days unto the age and unto the age of the age' (Ps 35:9), and that in Proverbs: 'The righteous shall make many years in wealth' (Prov 10:6).

But that the increasing illumination and length of days is the prophet of the divine laws, Moses, saying to the God-lover: 'This is your life and the length of your days: to love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your heart' (Deut 6:5). For since love that is attentive to God is luminous, it prepares long and great days, so that those participating in it find themselves having many-dayed and long-lasting existence.

Compared to these days, the introductory gleams are found to be small days, which he who is not undervaluing will easily be tempted by, following the bright progresses. In whichs the one born will rejoice in 'joy inexpressible and glorified' (1 Pet 1:8), existing in 'fruit of the Holy Spirit' (Gal 5:22).

And what follows him who rejoices thus, or to see the tinny stone in hand, that is, in practice, of Zerubbabel, from whom the one from Abraham and David and finally from Mary, Jesus, is genealogically descended, who works through all things to be luminous and discerning.

Regarding those approaching him. He said there are seven eyes, observing and looking upon all the earth, especially when those dwelling on the earth learned to do righteousness, walking without blemish and working righteousness. That these look upon things by the Lord is learned from the Psalmist saying: 'The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears to their prayer' (Psalm 34:15).

The whole has seven divine eyes, being inherently perceptive; in this way also the most holy Cherubim, at whom God attends, according to the vision of Ezekiel, are eyed all over, it having been said they are full of eyes, just as they have eyes on their sides and on their faces for the inspection of superabundant and great wonders. The Cherubim are interpreted as a multitude of knowledge; from which it appears that they see what they know and what they look upon and impose.

See then that: 'Who has made it into small days?' (Zechariah 4:11) does not indicate a sparingly seen thing, but someone called by some specifically, and by others an individual, similarly to the apostolic word having thus: 'Every house is built by someone' (Hebrews 3:4).

And I answered and said to him: 'What are these two olive trees which are by the right side of the lampstand and by the two olive branches?' (Zechariah 4:12). And I inquired a second time and said to him: 'What are the two olive branches which are in the hands of the two golden pipes that pour out and bring up the golden oil-streams?' (Zechariah 4:13). And he said to me: 'Do you not know what these are?' And I said: 'No, Lord.' And he said: 'These are the two sons of stability who stand beside the Lord of all the earth' (Zechariah 4:14).

When the angel speaking in the prophet asked: 'What do you see?' he answered and said inquiringly: 'What are these two olive trees which are on the right and by the olive branches of the lampstand?' An answer not being given to him, he inquires a second time about the two olive branches which are in the hands of the two pipes that pour out and bring up the golden oil-streams. To whom the angel said: 'Do you not know what these are?' 'No, Lord,' saying the prophet, the angel said: 'These are the two sons of stability who stand beside the Lord of all the earth.'

For one having the beginning of initiation, it is not possible at all to know what are those on the right and by the olive branches.