"glorious cherubs" (Hebrews 9:5)

Greek: ὑπεράνω δὲ αὐτῆς Χερουβεὶν δόξης κατασκιάζοντα τὸ ἱλαστήριον· περὶ ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν νῦν λέγειν κατὰ μέρος.

NWT 2013: "and above it were the glorious cherubs overshadowing the propitiatory cover. But now is not the time to speak of these things in detail."

NET Bible: "And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail."

This image is the textual commentary of Zerwick-Grosvenor for Hebrews 9.

Zerwick-Grosvenor understand δόξης as a reference to the divine glory manifested "in the cloud" above the Ark of the Covenant. Compare Hebrews 1:3. Maybe translate as "cherubs of glory."

ESV renders "cherubim of glory"

Gareth Cockerill (Hebrews Commentary in the NICNT Series, page 508 of the electronic version): "The Cherubim were two figures made of gold whose wings overshadowed the 'Place of Atonement' or 'Mercy Seat' covering the Ark (Exod 25:10–22; 37:1–9). They were Cherubim of 'Glory' because it was between them that the 'Glory' of the divine presence dwelt among God’s people (cf. Exod 25:22).³⁴ This was the earthly 'throne' of God (1 Sam 4:4; 2 Sam 6:2; Pss 80:2; 99:1). It was the place where the high priest came annually on the Day of Atonement to sprinkle sacrificial blood before the 'Mercy Seat' in atonement for sin (Lev 16:1–19)."

Footnote 34: "Thus 'Cherubim of Glory' does not mean 'glorious Cherubim' but the 'Cherubim' between whom the 'Glory' of God dwelt. See Koester 396, REB. So also Kistemaker, 240; Westcott, 249."

I also found an Exodus commentary online by George Bush (not the former US President!), and he points to the cherubs overshadowing the propitiatory cover , which also interested me: the cherubs on the Ark assumed a position of submissive worship before YHWH and they figuratively protected the propitiatory cover (mercy seat or place of atonement) with their overarching wings.

However, Bush makes an additional point:

I do not accept Bush's remarks uncritically; he makes some good observations about the overshadowing and the "cherubs of glory." His remarks about God's Son need to be qualified, but I think it's likely that the "glory" mentioned in Hebrews 9:5 just might be the divine glory that was manifested above the Ark (Leviticus 16:1-2; Numbers 7:89; Psalm 80:1).

John Chrysostom: "What is 'the Cherubim of glory'? He either means 'the glorious,' or those which are under God."

Henry Alford: "The δόξα is the Shechinah, or bright cloud of glory, in which Jehovah appeared between the cherubic forms, and to which, as attendants, and watchers, and upholders, they belonged. The want of the art. before δόξης is no argument for the other view, as δόξα is often used thus anarthrous for the Shechinah: cf. Exodus 40:28 (34), κ. ἐκάλυψεν ἡ νεφέλη τὴν σκηνὴν τοῦ μαρτυρίου, κ. δόξης κυρίου ἐπλήσθη ἡ σκηνή: 1Kings 4:22: Ezekiel 9:3; Ezekiel 10:18 al. On the Cherubim, see further Winer, Realw. sub voce) overshadowing (casting shadow down upon, causing to be κατάσκιον: see reff. Exod. χερουβίν here, as usually, is neuter: cf. Genesis 3:24: Exodus 25:18 al.: sometimes the LXX have used it masc.: e. g. Exodus 25:20; Exodus 28:23 al. There seems to be a reason for the variation: the neut. being employed when they are spoken of merely as figures, the masc. when as agents."