Reference: ARK OF THE COVENANT
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The sacred chest or coffer in which the tables of the law were deposited, written by the finger of God, and witnessing to his covenant with his people, Ex 25:22; 34:29. It was of shittim-wood, covered within and without with plates of gold, nearly four feet in length, and two feet three inches in width and height. On the top of it, all around, ran a kind of gold crown. It had four rings of gold, two on each side, through which staves were put, by which it was carried. These also were overlaid with the finest gold, and were not to be removed from the rings, Ex 25:10-22. The lid of the ark, all of gold, was called the mercy-seat; and upon its opposite ends were two golden cherubim, fronting each other and the mercy-seat, which they covered with their outspread wings, Ex 37:1-9. Here God especially dwelt, 2Ki 19:15; 1Ch 13:6, and shone forth, perhaps by some sensible manifestations, Le 16:2; Ps 80:1. Here he received the homage of his people, and dispensed his living oracles, Nu 7:89. The great yearly sacrifice of expiation was here offered by the high priest, Heb 9:7, in the Holy of Holies. Hence there was no object held more sacred by the Jews than "the ark of God." During their journeys in the wilderness, it was borne by the priests under a purple canopy and with great reverence before the host of Israel, Nu 4:5-6. Before it the Jordan was divided, and behind it the waters flowed on again, Jos 3-4. The walls of Jericho fell down before it, Jos 6:4-12.
After this, the ark continued some time at Gilgal, whence it was removed to Shiloh, Jos 4:19; 10:43; 18:1. Hence the Israelites took it to their camp; but when they gave battle to the Philistines, it was taken by the enemy, 1Sa 4. Th Philistines, oppressed by the hand of God, returned the ark, and it was lodged at Kirjath-jearim, 1Sa 7:1. It was afterwards, in the reign of Saul, at Nob. David conveyed it from Kirjath-jearim to the house of Obed-Edom, and from thence to his palace on Zion, 2Sa 6; and lastly, Solomon brought it into the temple at Jerusalem,
2Ch 5:2. It remained in the temple, with all suitable respect, till the times of the later idolatrous kings of Judah, who profaned the Most Holy place by their idols, when the priests appear to have removed the ark from the temple. At least, Josiah commanded them to bring it back to the sanctuary, and forbade them to carry it about, as they had hitherto done, 2Ch 35:3. The ark appears to have been destroyed at the captivity, or perhaps concealed by pious Jews in some hiding-place afterwards undiscoverable, as we hear nothing more of it; and the want of it made the second temple less glorious than the first.
Besides the tables of the covenant, placed by Moses in this sacred coffer, God appointed the blossoming rod of Aaron to be lodged there, Nu 17:10; Heb 9:4; a golden vase of manna gathered in the wilderness, Ex 16:33-34, and a copy of the book of the law, De 31:26.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Moses spake unto Aaron, "Take a cruse and put a gomer full of Manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD to be kept for yourhildren after you, as the LORD commanded Moses." And Aaron laid it up before the testimony there to be kept.
And they shall make an ark of sethim-wood; two cubits and a half long, a cubit and a half broad, and a cubit and a half high. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold: both within and without, and shalt make on high upon it, a crown of gold round about. read more. And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it and put them in the four corners thereof; two rings on the one side of it, and two on the other. And thou shalt make staves of sethim-wood and cover them with gold, and put the staves in the rings along by the sides of the ark, to bear it withal. And the staves shall abide in the rings of the ark, and shall not be taken away. And thou shalt put in the ark, the witness which I shall give thee. "And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold, two cubits and a half long and a cubit and a half broad. And make two cherubims of thick gold on the two ends of the mercy seat; and set the one cherub on the one end and the other on the other end of the mercy seat: so see that thou make them on the two ends thereof. And the cherubims shall stretch their wings abroad over on high, and cover the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another: even to the mercy seat ward, shall the faces of the cherubims be. And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark, and in the ark thou shalt put the witness which I will give thee. "There I will meet thee and will commune with thee from upon the mercy seat from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of witness, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
"There I will meet thee and will commune with thee from upon the mercy seat from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of witness, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
And Moses came down from mount Sinai, and the two tables of witness in his hand, and yet he wist not that the skin of his face shone with beams of his communing with him.
And Bezalel made the ark of sethim-wood two cubits and a half long and a cubit and a half broad, and a cubit and a half high: and overlaid it with fine gold both within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about, read more. and cast for it four rings of gold for the four corners of it: two rings for the one side and two for the other, and made staves of sethim-wood, and covered them with gold, and put the staves in the rings along by the side of the ark to bear it withal. And he made the mercy seat of pure gold two cubits and a half long and one cubit and a half broad, and made two cherubims of thick gold upon the two ends of the mercy seat: One cherub on the one end, and another cherub on the other end of the mercy seat. And the cherubims spread out their wings above on high, and covered the mercy seat therewith. And their faces were one to another: even to the mercy seat ward, were the faces of the cherubims.
And he said unto Moses, "Speak unto Aaron thy brother that he go not at all times into the holy place, that is within the veil that hangeth before the mercy seat which is upon the ark; that he die not. For I will appear in a cloud upon the mercy seat.
And when the host removeth, Aaron and his sons shall come and take down the veil, and cover the ark of witness therewith, and shall put thereon a covering of taxus' skins and shall spread a cloth that is altogether of jacinth, above all, and put the staves thereof in.
And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of witness to speak with him, he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of witness: even from between the two cherubims he spake unto him.
And the LORD said unto Moses, "Bring Aaron's rod again before the witness to be kept for a token unto the children of rebellion, that their murmurings may cease from me, that they die not."
"Take the book of this law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and let it be there for a witness unto thee.
And the people came up out of Jordan the tenth day of the first month and pitched in Gilgal even in the east borders of Jericho.
And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. And the seventh day, ye shall compass the city seven times and the priests shall blow with their trumpets. And when there is a long blast blown with the ram's horn, as soon as ye hear the sound of the horn, let all the people shout a mighty shout. And then shall the walls of the city fall down, and the people shall ascend up, every man straight before him." read more. And Joshua the son of Nun called unto the priests, and said unto them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD." And he said unto the people, "Go and compass the city: And let the men of arms go before the ark of the LORD." And when Joshua had spoken unto the people, the seven priests that bare the seven trumpets of rams horns before the ark of the LORD went forth and blew with the horns, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed after them. And the men of arms went before the priests that blew with the horns, and the common people came after the ark: and as they went, they blew with the horns. And Joshua commanded the people, saying, "Shout not nor let your voice be heard, or any word proceed out of your mouths, until the day I bid you shout: and then shout." And so the ark of the LORD compassed the city and went about it once: and then they returned unto the host and lodged there. And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD,
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel came together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of witness there, and the land was in subjection before them.
And the men of Kiriathjearim came and set up the ark of the LORD, and brought it unto the house of Abinadab in Gibeah and sanctified Eleazar his son to wait upon the ark of the LORD.
And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, "LORD God of Israel which dwellest between the Cherubs, thou art God alone over all the kingdoms of the earth, and thou hast made both heaven and earth.
Then Solomon gathered the elders of Israel together and all the heads of the tribes and ancient lords among the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem: to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD out of the city of David which is Zion.
And he said to the Levites that taught throughout all Israel and were sanctified unto the LORD, "Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; ye need not to bear it upon your shoulders. Wherefore now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel.
{To the Chanter, upon Shoshannim, a Psalm of Asaph} Hear, O thou shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Jacob like a flock of sheep; show thyself, thou that sittest upon the Cherubim.
which had the golden censer, and the ark of the testament overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot with manna, and Aaron's rod that sprung, and the tables of the testament.
But into the second went the high priest alone, once every year: and not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the ignorance of the people.
Fausets
(aron, not teebah). An oblong chester shittim wood (acacia), two and a half cubits long, one and a half broad and deep. F. W. Kolland measured acacias nine feet in girth, in the region of Israel's wandering; he attributes their being usually stunted there to the Arabs cutting off the young shoots for the she goats. Thus Colenso's cavil that "not a single acacia" is to be seen where the ark is said to have been constructed is answered. It is a propriety characteristic of the truth of the Scripture narrative that it represents the ark as not made of oak or cedar, the best woods of the Holy Land, but of acacia, the wood of the wilderness. Cedar actually was the wood used for the Jerusalem temple. In the thorn of man's curse appeared the angel of the covenant to Moses, to bless man; and out of its wood was formed the ark of the covenant, the typical source of his blessing. Overlaid with gold within and without.
The mercy-seat supporting the cherubim, one at each end, was on the lid, with a crown or raised border, and was Jehovah's mystical throne. It had rings at the four grainers for the two staves to pass through, wherewith the Kohathite Levites or priests carried it. The staves were permanently in the rings. Within e veil was its proper place, the ends of the staves, however, being visible, in Solomon's temple, in the outer holy place. When carried about, the ark was wrapped in the veil, the badger's skin, and blue cloth. Its title, "the ark of the testimony," implies its purpose, namely, to keep intact God's "covenant" written by God on the two stone tables (Ex 34:28), as the sacred deposit of the Israelite church (Ex 25:22; Nu 10:33).
The outward keeping taught symbolically the moral and spiritual keeping of God's commandments. In the wilderness "the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days' journey to search out a resting place for them; and when the ark set forward, Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered, and let them that hate Thee flee before Thee. And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel" (Nu 10:33-36; Ps 68:1; 132:8). At the passage of the Jordan it was when the ark was borne by the priests and their feet had touched the water, that an open way was made for Israel. Only when the material ark, apart from obedience, was expected to give that favor of God which only obedience to the law contained within the ark could ensure, did God "deliver His strength" (the pledge of God's strengthening His people) "into captivity and His glory into the enemy's hands" (Ps 78:61; 1Sa 4:11).
When the ark was taken the "glory" was departed (1Sa 4:21-22). The ark and the sanctuary were "the beauty of Israel" (La 2:1). The antitype, Messiah, goes before His redeemed, exploring their way through the wilderness, making clear passage through death's waters into the heavenly Canaan. Like the ark with the Philistines Messiah was the captive of the grave for a brief space, but with triumph He rose again; and as when the ark went up to the tabernacle reared for it by David on Zion, so on Christ's ascending the heavenly mount the glorious anthem arose: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in" (Psalm 24). Every Dagon must fall before Him now; for even in His temporary captivity in death the powers of darkness were crushed before Him (Col 2:14-15; Mt 27:50-54). As the ark blessed the house of Obed Edom, so Christ is the true bestower of blessings (Ac 3:20).
The restriction of the ark's contents to the decalogue implies that this is the central core of all the various precepts, the moral end for which the positive precepts were given. They were in the innermost shrine, to mark their perpetually obligatory nature and the holiness of God; in the ark, the type of Christ, to mark that in Him alone, "the Lord our righteousness," they find their perfect realization. 1Ki 8:9 states there was nothing in the ark of Solomon's temple save the two stone tables of the law; but Heb 9:4 states there were also the golden pot of manna (the memorial of God's providential care of Israel), and Aaron's rod that budded (the memorial of the lawful priesthood, Nu 17:3-10). Probably by the time of Solomon the other two relics had been lost, perhaps when the ark was in the hands of the Philistines. "Before the Lord" and "before the testimony" was where they were directed to be laid up (Ex 16:32-36).
The mercy-seat was not merely regarded as the lid of the ark, but as the most important feature in the holiest place (Ex 25:17; 26:34; Le 16:2), the only meeting place between God and man. It was the (caporeth) or covering, not merely of the ark. but (when sprinkled with the sacrificial blood once a year on the great day of atonement) of Israel's sins against the law contained within the ark. Hence it is called in the Septuagint "the propitiatory" (hilasterion); and Christ, the true mercy-seat (Ps 85:10) and place of meeting between the holy God and guilty man, is called the very same (Ro 3:25), "propitiation," lit. propitiatory. In 1Ch 28:11 the holiest is called" the place of the mercy-seat," so prominent was the latter in symbolical significance.
The ark was never seen save by the high priest; symbol of God whom no man can see, and whose likeness is only to be seen in Christ (Joh 1:18; Heb 1:3), the true Ark, and our High Priest with the Father. Thus every tendency to idolatry was excluded, an ark occupying the central place of holiness, and that seen only once a year by the one religious representative of the people. Even it is to be superseded in the coming temple at. Jerusalem, when "they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord, neither shall it come to mind, neither shall they re. member it"; for Jehovah Jesus, the Antitype, will be there, "at that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered unto it" (Jer 3:16). The absence of the ark after its capture by the Philistines possibly impaired the reverential awe felt toward it (1Ch 13:3,9). But the stroke on Uzza, and the rearing of the tabernacle for it in Zion by David, after its long abode of 20 years in Kirjath Jearim, in Abinadab's house, recovered for it all its sanctity.
The altar of burnt offering where the sacrifices were offered continued separate from it at Gibeon, the "great high place" (1Ki 3:4) (in the tabernacle of the ark on Zion the service was song and praise alone) until the two were reunited in the temple of Solomon, a type of the gospel separation of the spiritual service of prayer and praise going on here below, from the priestly intercession being carried on above by our Lord Jesus. The spiritual and the literal priestly services will perhaps be reunited in Ezekiel's millennial temple at Jerusalem, one antitype to Solomon's temple. Compare Ac 15:16-17. Manasseh set up an idol, a carved image, instead of the ark which contained the testimony against him. Josiah restored it to its place in the house of God (2Ch 33:7; 35:3).
The ark was wanting in the second temple, having been probably burnt with the temple (2Ch 36:19); compare (apocryphal) 2 Esdras 10:22, "the ark of our covenant is spoiled." Its absence was one of the points wherein the second was inferior to the first temple. (See ALTAR.) There must have been some substitute for it, on which to sprinkle the blood, in the holiest, on the great day of atonement; the Jews mention an altar stone, slightly raised from the floor. Pagan nations too had their mystic arks (whence arcanum is the term for a mystery), but so distinct in use from the Mosaic that the differences are more prominent than the resemblances.
The Egyptian arks (on their monuments) were, like the Hebrew ark, carried by poles on men's shoulders. Some had too on the cover two winged figures like cherubim; but between these was the material symbol of a deity, and the arks were carried about in procession to make a show before the people. The ark of the covenant on the contrary was marked by the absence of any symbol of God. It was never carried in procession. When moved it was carefully covered up from the ey
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Moses said, "This is that which the LORD commandeth: fill a gomer of it, that it may be kept for your children after you: that they may see the bread wherewith he fed you in wilderness, when he had brought you out of the land of Egypt.
And Moses said, "This is that which the LORD commandeth: fill a gomer of it, that it may be kept for your children after you: that they may see the bread wherewith he fed you in wilderness, when he had brought you out of the land of Egypt. And Moses spake unto Aaron, "Take a cruse and put a gomer full of Manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD to be kept for yourhildren after you,
And Moses spake unto Aaron, "Take a cruse and put a gomer full of Manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD to be kept for yourhildren after you, as the LORD commanded Moses." And Aaron laid it up before the testimony there to be kept.
as the LORD commanded Moses." And Aaron laid it up before the testimony there to be kept. And the children of Israel ate Manna forty years until they came unto a land inhabited. And so they ate Manna, even until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan;
And the children of Israel ate Manna forty years until they came unto a land inhabited. And so they ate Manna, even until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan; and a gomer is the tenth part of an ephah.
and a gomer is the tenth part of an ephah.
"And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold, two cubits and a half long and a cubit and a half broad.
"And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold, two cubits and a half long and a cubit and a half broad.
"There I will meet thee and will commune with thee from upon the mercy seat from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of witness, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
"There I will meet thee and will commune with thee from upon the mercy seat from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of witness, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of witness in the holiest place.
And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of witness in the holiest place.
And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights, and neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote in the tables the words of the covenant: even ten verses.
And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights, and neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote in the tables the words of the covenant: even ten verses.
And he said unto Moses, "Speak unto Aaron thy brother that he go not at all times into the holy place, that is within the veil that hangeth before the mercy seat which is upon the ark; that he die not. For I will appear in a cloud upon the mercy seat.
And he said unto Moses, "Speak unto Aaron thy brother that he go not at all times into the holy place, that is within the veil that hangeth before the mercy seat which is upon the ark; that he die not. For I will appear in a cloud upon the mercy seat.
And when the host removeth, Aaron and his sons shall come and take down the veil, and cover the ark of witness therewith,
And when the host removeth, Aaron and his sons shall come and take down the veil, and cover the ark of witness therewith, and shall put thereon a covering of taxus' skins and shall spread a cloth that is altogether of jacinth, above all, and put the staves thereof in.
and shall put thereon a covering of taxus' skins and shall spread a cloth that is altogether of jacinth, above all, and put the staves thereof in.
But thus do unto them that they may live and not die, when they go unto the most holy place. Aaron and his sons shall go in and put them, every man unto his service and unto his burden.
But thus do unto them that they may live and not die, when they go unto the most holy place. Aaron and his sons shall go in and put them, every man unto his service and unto his burden. But let them not go in to see when they cover the sanctuary, lest they die."
But let them not go in to see when they cover the sanctuary, lest they die."
And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey to search out a resting place for them.
And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey to search out a resting place for them.
And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey to search out a resting place for them.
And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey to search out a resting place for them. And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day, when they went out of the tents.
And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day, when they went out of the tents. And when the ark went forth, Moses said, "Rise up LORD and let thine enemies be scattered, and let them that hate thee flee before thee."
And when the ark went forth, Moses said, "Rise up LORD and let thine enemies be scattered, and let them that hate thee flee before thee." And when the ark rested, he said, "Return LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel."
And when the ark rested, he said, "Return LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel."
And write Aaron's name upon the staff of Levi: for every headman over the houses of their fathers shall have a rod.
And write Aaron's name upon the staff of Levi: for every headman over the houses of their fathers shall have a rod. And put them in the tabernacle of witness where I will meet you.
And put them in the tabernacle of witness where I will meet you. And his rod whom I chose, shall blossom: So I will make cease from me the grudgings of the children of Israel which they grudge against you."
And his rod whom I chose, shall blossom: So I will make cease from me the grudgings of the children of Israel which they grudge against you." And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and all the princes gave him for every prince over their fathers' houses, a rod: even twelve rods, and the rod of Aaron was among the rods.
And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and all the princes gave him for every prince over their fathers' houses, a rod: even twelve rods, and the rod of Aaron was among the rods. And Moses put the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.
And Moses put the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. And on the morrow, Moses went in to the tabernacle: and behold, the rod of Aaron of the house of Levi was budded and bare blossoms and almonds.
And on the morrow, Moses went in to the tabernacle: and behold, the rod of Aaron of the house of Levi was budded and bare blossoms and almonds. And Moses brought out all the staves from before the LORD, unto all the children of Israel, and they looked upon them, and took every man his staff.
And Moses brought out all the staves from before the LORD, unto all the children of Israel, and they looked upon them, and took every man his staff. And the LORD said unto Moses, "Bring Aaron's rod again before the witness to be kept for a token unto the children of rebellion, that their murmurings may cease from me, that they die not."
And the LORD said unto Moses, "Bring Aaron's rod again before the witness to be kept for a token unto the children of rebellion, that their murmurings may cease from me, that they die not."
But ye shall go over Jordan and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and he shall give you rest from all your enemies round about: and ye shall dwell in safety.
But ye shall go over Jordan and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and he shall give you rest from all your enemies round about: and ye shall dwell in safety. Therefore, when the LORD your God hath chosen a place to make his name dwell there, thither ye shall bring all that I command you: your burnt sacrifices and your offerings, your tithes and the heave offerings of your hands and all your godly vows which ye vow unto the LORD.
Therefore, when the LORD your God hath chosen a place to make his name dwell there, thither ye shall bring all that I command you: your burnt sacrifices and your offerings, your tithes and the heave offerings of your hands and all your godly vows which ye vow unto the LORD.
And when the people were come into their tents, the elders of Israel said, "Wherefore hath the LORD beaten us this day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD, out of Shiloh unto us, and let it come among us and save us out of the hands of our enemies."
And when the people were come into their tents, the elders of Israel said, "Wherefore hath the LORD beaten us this day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD, out of Shiloh unto us, and let it come among us and save us out of the hands of our enemies."
And she named the child Ichabod saying, "Honour is departed from Israel" - Because the ark of God was taken, and her father-in-law and her husband were dead.
And she named the child Ichabod saying, "Honour is departed from Israel" - Because the ark of God was taken, and her father-in-law and her husband were dead. And therefore she said, "Honour is gone from Israel," because the ark of God was taken.
And therefore she said, "Honour is gone from Israel," because the ark of God was taken.
And he plagued the men of Bethshemesh, because they had seen the ark of the LORD. And he slew of the people fifty thousand and three score and ten persons. And the people lamented, because the LORD had slain so great a slaughter of them.
And he plagued the men of Bethshemesh, because they had seen the ark of the LORD. And he slew of the people fifty thousand and three score and ten persons. And the people lamented, because the LORD had slain so great a slaughter of them.
And then Saul said unto Ahijah, "Bring hither the ark of God." For the ark of God was at the time with the children of Israel.
And then Saul said unto Ahijah, "Bring hither the ark of God." For the ark of God was at the time with the children of Israel.
And the king went to Gibeon, to offer there: for that was a great offering place. And there Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings upon that altar.
And the king went to Gibeon, to offer there: for that was a great offering place. And there Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings upon that altar.
And there was nothing in the Ark save the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel after they were come out of Egypt.
And there was nothing in the Ark save the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel after they were come out of Egypt.
And let us bring again the Ark of the Lord to us: for we regarded it not in the days of Saul."
And let us bring again the Ark of the Lord to us: for we regarded it not in the days of Saul."
And when they came on the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put forth his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.
And when they came on the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put forth his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.
And David gave Solomon his son the pattern of the porch and of the houses that belonged thereto, and of the storehouses, upper chambers, innermore parlors and of the house of the mercy seat:
And David gave Solomon his son the pattern of the porch and of the houses that belonged thereto, and of the storehouses, upper chambers, innermore parlors and of the house of the mercy seat:
And he put the carved Image of an Idol which he had made, in the house of God - Of which house, God said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house here in Jerusalem which I have chosen out of all the tribes, I will put my name forever,
And he put the carved Image of an Idol which he had made, in the house of God - Of which house, God said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house here in Jerusalem which I have chosen out of all the tribes, I will put my name forever,
And he said to the Levites that taught throughout all Israel and were sanctified unto the LORD, "Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; ye need not to bear it upon your shoulders. Wherefore now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel.
And he said to the Levites that taught throughout all Israel and were sanctified unto the LORD, "Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; ye need not to bear it upon your shoulders. Wherefore now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel.
And they burnt the house of God and brake down the walls of Jerusalem and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire with all the goodly stuff thereof, and marred it.
And they burnt the house of God and brake down the walls of Jerusalem and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire with all the goodly stuff thereof, and marred it.
{To the Chanter, a Psalm and song of David} Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; let them also that hate him flee before him.
{To the Chanter, a Psalm and song of David} Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; let them also that hate him flee before him.
He delivered their power into captivity, and their beauty into the enemy's hand.
He delivered their power into captivity, and their beauty into the enemy's hand.
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Arise, O LORD, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength.
Arise, O LORD, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength.
Arise, O LORD, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength.
Arise, O LORD, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength.
"This shall be my rest; here will I dwell, for I have a delight therein.
"This shall be my rest; here will I dwell, for I have a delight therein.
Moreover, when ye be increased and multiplied in the land, then, sayeth the LORD, there shall no more boast be made of the ark of the LORD's Covenant: No man shall think upon it, neither shall any man make mention of it: for from thenceforth it shall neither be visited, nor honored with gifts.
Moreover, when ye be increased and multiplied in the land, then, sayeth the LORD, there shall no more boast be made of the ark of the LORD's Covenant: No man shall think upon it, neither shall any man make mention of it: for from thenceforth it shall neither be visited, nor honored with gifts.
{Aleph} Alas, how hath the LORD darkened the daughter of Zion so sore in his wrath? As for the honour of Israel, he hath casten it down from heaven: How happeneth it, that he remembered not his own foot stool when he was angry?
{Aleph} Alas, how hath the LORD darkened the daughter of Zion so sore in his wrath? As for the honour of Israel, he hath casten it down from heaven: How happeneth it, that he remembered not his own foot stool when he was angry?
Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up the ghost.
Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up the ghost. And behold, the veil of the temple did rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake,
And behold, the veil of the temple did rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake, and the stones did rent, and graves did open, and the bodies of many saints which slept, arose:
and the stones did rent, and graves did open, and the bodies of many saints which slept, arose: and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and came into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and came into the holy city, and appeared unto many. When the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake and those things which happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Of a surety this was the son of God."
When the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake and those things which happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Of a surety this was the son of God."
No man hath seen God at any time. The only begotten son, which is in the father's bosom, hath declared him.
No man hath seen God at any time. The only begotten son, which is in the father's bosom, hath declared him.
and when God shall send him, which before was preached unto you,
and when God shall send him, which before was preached unto you,
'After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down, and that which is fallen in decay of it will I build again and I will set it up,
'After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down, and that which is fallen in decay of it will I build again and I will set it up, that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and also the Gentiles upon whom my name is named saith the Lord, which doth all these things.'
that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and also the Gentiles upon whom my name is named saith the Lord, which doth all these things.'
- whom God hath set forth for a mercy seat through faith in his blood, to show the righteousness which before him is of valour, in that he forgiveth the sins that are passed,
- whom God hath set forth for a mercy seat through faith in his blood, to show the righteousness which before him is of valour, in that he forgiveth the sins that are passed,
and hath put out the handwriting that was against us, contained in the law written, and that hath he taken out of the way, and hath fastened it to his cross,
and hath put out the handwriting that was against us, contained in the law written, and that hath he taken out of the way, and hath fastened it to his cross, and hath spoiled rule and power, and hath made a show of them openly, and hath triumphed over them in his own person.
and hath spoiled rule and power, and hath made a show of them openly, and hath triumphed over them in his own person.
Which son, being the brightness of his glory, and very image of his substance, bearing up all things with the word of his power, hath in his own person purged our sins, and is sitten on the righthand of the majesty on high,
Which son, being the brightness of his glory, and very image of his substance, bearing up all things with the word of his power, hath in his own person purged our sins, and is sitten on the righthand of the majesty on high,
which had the golden censer, and the ark of the testament overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot with manna, and Aaron's rod that sprung, and the tables of the testament.
which had the golden censer, and the ark of the testament overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot with manna, and Aaron's rod that sprung, and the tables of the testament.
Smith
Ark of the Covenant.
The first piece of the tabernacle's furniture, for which precise directions were delivered. Exod 25. I. Description.-- It appears to have been an oblong chest of shittim (acacia) wood, 2 1/2 cubits long by 1 1/2 broad and deep. Within and without gold was overlaid on the wood, and on the upper side or lid, which was edged round about with gold, the mercy-seat was placed. The ark was fitted with rings, one at each of the four corners, and through these were passed staves of the same wood similarly overlaid, by which it was carried by the Kohathites.
The ends of the staves were visible without the veil in the holy place of the temple of Solomon.
The ark, when transported, was enveloped in the "veil" of the dismantled tabernacle, in the curtain of badgers' skins and in a blue cloth over all, and was therefore not seen.
II. Its purpose was to contain inviolate the divine autograph of the two tables, that "covenant" from which it derived its title. It was also probably a reliquary for the pot of manna and the rod of Aaron. III. History.--Before David's time its abode was frequently shifted. It sojourned among several, probably Levitical, families,
1Sa 7:1; 2Sa 6:3,11; 1Ch 13:13; 15:24-25
in the border villages of eastern Judah; and did not take its place in the tabernacle, but dwelt in curtains, i.e. in a separate tent pitched for it in Jerusalem by David. Subsequently the temple, when completed, received, in the installation of the ark in its shrine, the signal of its inauguration by the effulgence of divine glory instantly manifested. It was probably taken captive or destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Esdr. 10:22, so that there was no ark in the second temple.
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And when the host removeth, Aaron and his sons shall come and take down the veil, and cover the ark of witness therewith,
But let them not go in to see when they cover the sanctuary, lest they die."
But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none, for the office that pertained to them was holy, and therefore they must bear upon shoulders.
Then the Kohathites went forward and bare the holy things, and the other did set up the habitation against they came.
And the men of Kiriathjearim came and set up the ark of the LORD, and brought it unto the house of Abinadab in Gibeah and sanctified Eleazar his son to wait upon the ark of the LORD.
Howbeit the staves were so long that the ends of them appeared out of the holy place before the quyre, but were not seen without. And there they be unto this day.
Watsons
ARK OF THE COVENANT, a small chest or coffer, three feet nine inches in length, two feet three inches in breadth, and two feet three inches in height; in which were contained the golden pot that had manna, Aaron's rod, and the tables of the covenant, Nu 17:10; Heb 9:4. This coffer was made of shittim wood, and was covered with a lid, called the mercy seat, Ex 25:17-22, &c, which was of solid gold, at the two ends whereof were two figures, called cherubim, looking toward each other with expanded wings, which, embracing the whole circumference of the mercy seat, met in the middle. The whole, according to the rabbins, was made out of the same mass, without any of the parts being joined by solder. Over this it was that the Shechinah, or visible display of the divine presence in a luminous cloud rested, both in the tabernacle, and in the temple, Le 16:2; and from hence the divine oracles were given forth by an audible voice, as often as God was consulted in behalf of his people. Hence it is that God is said in Scripture to dwell between the cherubim, on the mercy seat, because there was the seat or throne of the visible appearance of his glory among them, 2Ki 19:15; 1Ch 13:6; Ps 80:1, &c; and for this reason the high priest appeared before the mercy seat once every year, on the great day of expiation, at which time he was to make his nearest approach to the divine presence, to mediate and make atonement for the whole people of Israel. On the two sides of the ark there were four rings of gold, two on each side, through which staves, overlaid with gold, were put, by means whereof they carried it as they marched through the wilderness, &c, on the shoulders of the Levites, Ex 25:13-14; 27:5. After the passage of the Jordan, the ark continued for some time at Gilgal, from whence it was removed to Shiloh. From this place the Israelites carried it to their camp, where, in an engagement with the Philistines, it fell into their hands. The Philistines, having gotten possession of the ark, carried it in triumph to one of their principal cities, named Ashdod, and placed it in the temple of Dagon, whose image fell to the ground and was broken. The Philistines also were so afflicted with emerods, that they afterward returned the ark with various presents; and it was lodged at Kirjath-Jearim, and afterward at Nob. David conveyed it to the house of Obededom, and from thence to his palace at Zion; and lastly, Solomon brought in into the temple which he had built at Jerusalem. It remained in the temple till the times of the last kings of Judah, who gave themselves up to idolatry, and even dared to place their idols in the holy temple itself. The priests, being unable to bear this profanation, took the ark and carried it from place to place, to preserve it from the hands of those impious princes. Josiah commanded them to bring it back to the sanctuary, and it was accordingly replaced, 2Ch 35:3. What became of the ark at the destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar, is a dispute among the rabbins. Had it been carried to Babylon with the other vessels of the temple, it would, in all probability, have been brought back with them at the close of the captivity. But that this was not the case, is agreed on all hands; whence it is probable that it was destroyed with the temple.
The ark of the covenant was, as it were, the centre of worship to all those of the Hebrew nation who served God according to the Levitical law; and not only in the temple, when they came thither to worship, but every where else in their dispersions through the whole world; whenever they prayed, they turned their faces toward the place where the ark stood, and directed all their devotions that way, Da 6:10. Whence the author of the book of Cosri, justly says, that the ark, with the mercy seat and cherubim, were the foundation, root, heart, and marrow of the whole temple, and all the Levitical worship performed therein; and, therefore, had there been nothing else wanting in the second temple but the ark only, this alone would have been a sufficient reason for the old men to have wept when they remembered the first temple in which it stood; and for the saying of Hag 2:3, that the second temple was as nothing compared with the first; so great a share had the ark of the covenant in the glory of Solomon's temple. However, the defect was supplied as to the outward form, for in the second temple there was also an ark of the same dimensions with the first, and put in the same place; but it wanted the tables of the law, Aaron's rod, and the pot of manna; nor was there any appearance of the divine glory over it; nor any oracles delivered from it. The only use that was made of it was to be a representation of the former on the great day of expiation, and to be a repository of the Holy Scriptures, that is, of the original copy of that collection of them made by Ezra after the captivity; in imitation of which the Jews, in all their synagogues, have a like ark or coffer in which they keep their Scriptures.
For the temple of Solomon a new ark was not made; but he constructed cherubim in the most holy place, which were designed to give additional state to this most sacred symbol of God's grace and mercy. These cherubim were fifteen feet high, and were placed at equal distance from the centre of the ark and from each side of the wall, so that their wings being expanded, the two wings which were extended behind touched the wall, and the other two met over the ark and so overshadowed it. When these magnificent cherubim were finished, the ark was brought in and placed under their wings, 2Ch 5:7-10.
The ark was called the ark of the covenant, because it was a symbol of the covenant between God and his people. It was also named the ark of the testimony, because the two tables which were deposited in it were witnesses against every transgression.
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And thou shalt make staves of sethim-wood and cover them with gold, and put the staves in the rings along by the sides of the ark, to bear it withal.
"And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold, two cubits and a half long and a cubit and a half broad. And make two cherubims of thick gold on the two ends of the mercy seat; read more. and set the one cherub on the one end and the other on the other end of the mercy seat: so see that thou make them on the two ends thereof. And the cherubims shall stretch their wings abroad over on high, and cover the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another: even to the mercy seat ward, shall the faces of the cherubims be. And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark, and in the ark thou shalt put the witness which I will give thee. "There I will meet thee and will commune with thee from upon the mercy seat from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of witness, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
and put it beneath under the compass of the altar, and let the net reach unto the one half of the altar.
And he said unto Moses, "Speak unto Aaron thy brother that he go not at all times into the holy place, that is within the veil that hangeth before the mercy seat which is upon the ark; that he die not. For I will appear in a cloud upon the mercy seat.
And the LORD said unto Moses, "Bring Aaron's rod again before the witness to be kept for a token unto the children of rebellion, that their murmurings may cease from me, that they die not."
And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, "LORD God of Israel which dwellest between the Cherubs, thou art God alone over all the kingdoms of the earth, and thou hast made both heaven and earth.
And the priests brought the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD unto his place in the quire of the temple and place most holy: even under the wings of the Cherubs, that the Cherubs stretched out their wings over the place of the Ark and covered the Ark and her staves above on high. read more. And the staves of the Ark, were so long, that they were seen a little before the quire, but not far without. And there it remaineth unto this day. Moreover there was nothing in the Ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, after they were come out of Egypt.
And he said to the Levites that taught throughout all Israel and were sanctified unto the LORD, "Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; ye need not to bear it upon your shoulders. Wherefore now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel.
{To the Chanter, upon Shoshannim, a Psalm of Asaph} Hear, O thou shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Jacob like a flock of sheep; show thyself, thou that sittest upon the Cherubim.
Now when Daniel understood that the writing was made, he went into his house: and the windows of his hall toward Jerusalem stood open. There kneeled he down upon his knees, three times a day: there he made his petition, and praised his God, like as his manner was to do afore time.
'Who is left among you, that saw this house in her first beauty? But what think ye now by it? Is it not in your eyes, even as though it were nothing?
which had the golden censer, and the ark of the testament overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot with manna, and Aaron's rod that sprung, and the tables of the testament.