from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Shekinah \She*ki"nah\, n. [Heb Talmud shek[imac]n[=a]h, fr.
sh[=a]kan to inhabit.]
The visible majesty of the Divine Presence, especially when
resting or dwelling between the cherubim on the mercy seat,
in the Tabernacle, or in the Temple of Solomon; -- a term
used in the Targums and by the later Jews, and adopted by
Christians. [Written also {Shechinah}.] --Dr. W. Smith (Bib.
Dict.)
[1913 Webster]
from
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Shechinah
a Chaldee word meaning resting-place, not found in Scripture,
but used by the later Jews to designate the visible symbol of
God's presence in the tabernacle, and afterwards in Solomon's
temple. When the Lord led Israel out of Egypt, he went before
them "in a pillar of a cloud." This was the symbol of his
presence with his people. For references made to it during the
wilderness wanderings, see Ex. 14:20; 40:34-38; Lev. 9:23, 24;
Num. 14:10; 16:19, 42.
It is probable that after the entrance into Canaan this
glory-cloud settled in the tabernacle upon the ark of the
covenant in the most holy place. We have, however, no special
reference to it till the consecration of the temple by Solomon,
when it filled the whole house with its glory, so that the
priests could not stand to minister (1 Kings 8:10-13; 2 Chr.
5:13, 14; 7:1-3). Probably it remained in the first temple in
the holy of holies as the symbol of Jehovah's presence so long
as that temple stood. It afterwards disappeared. (See {CLOUD}.)