Ark of the Covenant
Ark of the Covenant
Notorious for its significance, the Ark of the Covenant is perhaps one of the most sought after artifacts of ancient biblical history. The mystique which surrounds the history of the Ark feeds the hunger of historians and archaeologists abroad. To gain a better understanding of the Ark of the Covenant, a short historical synopsis will be needed. In the pages to follow you will learn about the origin, journey and disappearance of the Ark.
According to the Bible, the Ark of the Covenant was made of acacia or shittah-tree wood overlaid with gold. It was a cubit and a half in width and height, while two cubits in length. Atop this ornate box sat two cherubim facing one another, wings outstretched, forming the Mercy Seat. At the base of each corner, golden rings were attached to hold two poles made of the same wood and golden overlay. This was the Ark of the Covenant, and its main purpose was to house the original stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, while showcasing God's Glory. The meaning of the Ark and how the LORD wanted it used was as follows: "1. To be a part of a worship fellowship that He had laid out specifically for the Jewish people; 2. To manifest Himself to His people, a visible living presence in all of His glory; 3. To point out to the people the consequences of not following his directions (as to handing the Ark and the danger of death); and 4. Finally, all of the fellowship, worship ritual, and all of the other information that was learned about dealing with the Ark led to preparation for the coming of our LORD our Savoir Jesus Christ, who proved to be the incarnate replacement for the Ark during His sojourn here on earth." (Alexander 22) However, other items were added to the Ark, although somewhat questionable, scholars are still in the process of interpreting them.
The Ark itself was built under the guidance of Moses after speaking with the LORD on Mt. Sinai. A peasant by the name of Bezalel was chosen by GOD to build
Notorious for its significance, the Ark of the Covenant is perhaps one of the most sought after artifacts of ancient biblical history. The mystique which surrounds the history of the Ark feeds the hunger of historians and archaeologists abroad. To gain a better understanding of the Ark of the Covenant, a short historical synopsis will be needed. In the pages to follow you will learn about the origin, journey and disappearance of the Ark.
According to the Bible, the Ark of the Covenant was made of acacia or shittah-tree wood overlaid with gold. It was a cubit and a half in width and height, while two cubits in length. Atop this ornate box sat two cherubim facing one another, wings outstretched, forming the Mercy Seat. At the base of each corner, golden rings were attached to hold two poles made of the same wood and golden overlay. This was the Ark of the Covenant, and its main purpose was to house the original stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, while showcasing God's Glory. The meaning of the Ark and how the LORD wanted it used was as follows: "1. To be a part of a worship fellowship that He had laid out specifically for the Jewish people; 2. To manifest Himself to His people, a visible living presence in all of His glory; 3. To point out to the people the consequences of not following his directions (as to handing the Ark and the danger of death); and 4. Finally, all of the fellowship, worship ritual, and all of the other information that was learned about dealing with the Ark led to preparation for the coming of our LORD our Savoir Jesus Christ, who proved to be the incarnate replacement for the Ark during His sojourn here on earth." (Alexander 22) However, other items were added to the Ark, although somewhat questionable, scholars are still in the process of interpreting them.
The Ark itself was built under the guidance of Moses after speaking with the LORD on Mt. Sinai. A peasant by the name of Bezalel was chosen by GOD to build
Cited: "Ark of the Covenant." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia [Online Encyclopedia] (Wikipedia 2005); http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ark_of_the_covenant (Accessed 12 November 2005). Alexander, Kelly D., Jr., Ark of the Covenant: Simplified Information for Lay-Persons. University Press of America, Inc, 2002. "Ark of the Covenant." NewAdvent.org. [Catholic Encyclopedia] http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01721a.htm (Accessed 12 November 2005).