serves to emphasize God’s unapproachability, which is further indicated by the wall of fire that encircles the throne—perhaps the fire that issues from under it (v 19). Thus at the heart of his temple the enthroned Deity sits surrounded by the fire and effulgent light typical of almost all biblical theophanies.22 This encircling fire radiates in concentric circles, so to speak, to the outer limits of the temple temenos, and its function is consistently to bar access to God, as any fire bars access