Exodus 25:18

You are to make two cherubim ¹  of gold; you are to make them of hammered metal on the two ends of the atonement lid.

And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover.

"You shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.

Then use hammered gold to make two cherubim, and place them at the two ends of the atonement cover.

"Sculpt two winged angels out of hammered gold for either end of the Atonement-Cover,

And at the two ends of the cover you are to make two winged ones of hammered gold,

You shall make two cherubim of gold; you shall make them of hammered work, at the two ends of the mercy seat.

"And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat.

You are to make two cherubim ¹  of gold; you are to make them of hammered metal on the two ends of the atonement lid.

¹ tn The evidence suggests that the cherubim were composite angelic creatures that always indicated the nearness of God. So here images of them were to be crafted and put on each end of the ark of the covenant to signify that they were there. Ezekiel 1 describes four cherubim as each having human faces, four wings, and parts of different animals for their bodies. Traditions of them appear in the other cultures as well. They serve to guard the holy places and to bear the throne of God. Here they were to be beaten out as part of the lid.