SHECHINAH or SHEKINAH. Not found in the Bible, but in the targums. From shakan "to dwell," from whence comes mishkan "the tabernacle." God's visible manifestation in a cloudy pillar and fire; the glorious light, enveloped in a cloud and thence bursting forth at times (Exodus 16:7-10), especially over the mercy-seat or capporeth . (See CLOUD, PILLAR OF.) Exodus 13:21-22; Exodus 14:19-20). Its absence from Zerubbabel's temple is one of the five particulars reckoned by the Jews as wanting in the second temple. In the targums, Shekinah is used as a periphrasis for God whenever He is said to "dwell" in Zion, between the cherubims, etc., to avoid the semblance of materialism. They anticipated the Shekinah's return under Messiah; Haggai 1:8 they paraphrase, "I will cause My Shekinah to dwell in it in glory"; Zechariah 2:10, "I will cause My Shekinah to dwell in the midst of thee," etc.
The continued presence of the Shekinah down to Nebuchadnezzar's destruction of the temple seems implied in Joshua 3; 4; 6; Psalms 68:1, compare Numbers 10:35; Psalms 132:8; Psalms 80:1; Psalms 99:1; Psalms 99:7; Leviticus 16:2. In the New Testament we find, corresponding to the Shekinah, "the glory of the Lord": Luke 2:9; compare Deuteronomy 33:2; Acts 7:2; Acts 7:53; Acts 7:55; Hebrews 2:2; Hebrews 9:5; Romans 9:4 "the glory"; John 1:14, "the Word tabernacled (eskeenosen ) among us, and we beheld His glory"; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 12:9, "that the power of Christ may tabernacle (episkeenosee ) upon me"; Revelation 21:3. His coming again with clouds and fire is the antitype of this Shekinah (Matthew 26:64; Luke 21:27; Acts 1:9; Acts 1:11; Acts 2Th_1:7-8; Revelation 1:7). Angels or cherubim generally accompany the Shekinah (Revelation 4:7-8; Psalms 68:17; Zechariah 14:5). In Genesis 3:24 is the earliest notice of the Shekinah as a swordlike flame between the cherubim , being the "Presence of Jehovah" from which Cain went out, and before which Adam and succeeding patriarchs worshipped.
From the co-author of the classic Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary, Fausset's Bible Dictionary stands as one of the best single-volume Bible encyclopedias ever written for general use. The author's writing style is always clear and concise, and he tackles issues important to the average student of the Bible, not just the Biblical scholars. This makes Fausset an excellent tool for both everyday Bible study and in-depth lesson or sermon preparation.Wikipedia
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