Above the mercy seat was the Shekinah, the manifestation of the divine Presence; and from between the cherubim, God made known His will. Divine messages were sometimes communicated to the high priest by a voice from the cloud. Sometimes a light fell upon the angel at the right, to signify approval or acceptance, or a shadow or cloud rested upon the one at the left to reveal disapproval or rejection.

Over sonedækket var Guds herlighed, åbenbarelsen af den guddommelige nærværelse, og det var mellem keruberne, Gud meddelte sin vilje. Somme tider meddelte en røst fra skyen ypperstepræsten budskaber fra Gud. Til tider skinnede der et lys over engelen på højre side som tegn på anerkendelse eller antagelse, eller en skygge hvilede over engelen til venstre for at tilkendegive misbilligelse eller forkastelse.