The Cherubim And The Flaming Sword

Et collocavit ante paradisum voluptatis cherubim et flammeum gladium atque versatilem ad custodiendam viam ligni vitae. Item quia cherubim scientiae multitudo, sive scientia multiplicata interpretatur, bene cherubim et flammeus gladius ad custodiendam viam ligni vitae collocatus esse perhibetur; quia nimirum per disciplinae nobis scientiam coelestis, et per laborem temporalium afflictionum, reditus ad supernam patriam patet, ex qua per stultitiam praevaricationis, perque appetitum carnalium voluptatum discessimus. Et bene non simpliciter flammam, sed gladium dicit flammeum ante paradisum esse collocatum, ut feriendas in nobis illecebras concupiscentiae temporalis insinuet gladio spiritus quod est verbum Dei, si ad lignum vitae, quod est Dominus Christus, penetrare concupiscimus. Bene eumdem gladium versatilem esse refert, ut indicet mystice non nobis semper hunc necessarium esse gladium, sed, ut scriptum est, tempus esse belli, tempus pacis denuntiet: belli videlicet, cum in hujus vitae studio adversum aereas potestates, vel etiam nostrae mentis et corporis vitia, certamus; pacis autem, cum perfecta victoria coronamur. Rabanus Maurus, Commentariorum In Genesim, Liber I, Caput XX Source: Migne PL 107.501a-502a

And He placed before the paradise of pleasure Cherubim, and a flaming sword, turning every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. 1 Because 'Cherubim' is interpreted as 'multitude of knowledge' or 'knowledge multiplied,' it is said that the Cherubim and the flaming sword were assigned to guard the way to the tree of life, certainly because it is through the discipline of heavenly understanding and endurance of temporal afflictions that there is an opening for us to return to the heavenly fatherland from which we were cut off by the foolishness of transgression and the appetite of carnal pleasure. And well does it not say just a flame, but a flaming sword was set before paradise, so that the snares of temporal pleasures we bear in us might be destroyed by the Spirit's insertion of the blade that is the word of God, 2 if to the tree of life, which is the Lord Christ, we desire to penetrate. And well is it said that sword is turning, for spiritually this indicates that this sword will not always be necessary for us, but as it is written, there is a time of war and there is a time of peace, 3 that is, the time of war is when we struggle with zeal in this life against the powers of the air, 4 or indeed against the vices of our own minds and bodies, but there is peace when we are crowned with consummate victory. Rabanus Maurus, Commentary On Genesis, Book 1, Chapter 20 1 Gen 35.24 2 Ephes 6.17 3 Eccles 3.8 4 Ephes 2.2, 6.12