Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Chronicles 3:13

"The wings of these cherubim spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were toward the house." — 2 Chronicles 3:13 (ASV)

Their faces were inward - This is meant literally, as noted in the margin of some Bibles. Instead of looking toward one another with heads bent downward over the mercy Seat, like the cherubim of Moses (Exodus 37:9), these cherubim of Solomon looked out from the sanctuary into the great chamber (“the house”). The cherubim thus stood upright on either side of the ark, like two sentinels guarding it.