The Ark of
the Covenant was the most important piece of furniture in the wilderness
tabernacle. The tabernacle was the tent or meeting place between God and man.
The Lord told Moses to build it (Exodus 25:10-22). The word for ark can also
mean “chest” (2 Kings 12:9-10) or “coffin” (Genesis 50:26). It is not the same
word used for Noah’s ark. The ark that Moses had Bezalel make was a chest made
of acacia wood (Exodus 31:1-5; Exodus 37:1-9 ). The chest measured
approximately 45 by 27 by 27 inches (114 by 69 by 69 centimeters). It was
covered inside and out with gold. Poles were slid through its two pairs of
rings to make it portable. The ark also served as a container for the two
tablets of the covenant given to Moses (Exodus 25:16). The tablets were also
called the “testimony.” That is why the ark was sometimes called the “ark of
the testimony.” A pot of manna was placed in the ark. Manna was the miraculous
food provided by God (Exodus 16:33). The ark also contained Aaron’s rod that
had sprouted (Numbers 17:10; Hebrews 9:4).
The lid of
the ark was called the “mercy seat” or “place of mercy” (Exodus 25:17). It was
a piece of gold fitting over the top of the ark. It held its own importance.
Once a year the high priest was to make atonement (the covering over of sin)
for the people of Israel. He would sprinkle the mercy seat with the blood of
bulls and goats (Leviticus 16:2-16). In fact, the English expression “mercy
seat” is related to the word for “atone.” The lid was called a “seat” because the
Lord was considered as enthroned between two cherubim (winged creatures; Psalm
99:1). The Lord spoke to Moses from between the cherubim (Numbers 7:89).
The ark was
sometimes referred to simply as the ark (Exodus 37:1; Numbers 3:31). At other
times it was called the “ark of the covenant” (Numbers 4:5; Joshua 4:16). The
Israelites were thus reminded that the ark’s holiness derived from the holy law
of God contained inside it. That name also showed the Israelites that they
needed to follow the commands God had given in his “covenant.”
Those
commands were given by the God of the covenant (or promise). He had rescued
Israel from slavery in Egypt and had promised to be the ever-present God of his
people (Exodus 6:6-7). Hence the ark was most widely known as the “ark of the
covenant.” Sometimes that name was extended to “the Ark of the LORD’s covenant”
(1 Chronicles 28:18, NLT).
At times the
ark was called “the Ark of God.” It was a visible sign that the invisible God
was dwelling in Israel’s midst. It had a devastating and often deadly
“holiness.” The people of Beth-shemesh were severely punished after they had
treated the ark without proper respect (1 Samuel 6:19). A man named Uzzah was
killed by the Lord when he touched it with his hand to keep it from tumbling to
the ground from a cart (2 Samuel 6:6-9). The ark was dangerous to touch because
it was the very symbol of God’s presence. For this reason God commanded that
the ark be placed in the Holy of Holies. It was to be separated from the rest
of the tabernacle (and later the temple) by a heavy veil (Exodus 26:31-33;
Hebrews 9:3-5). No sinful person could look upon the glory of God above the ark
and live (Leviticus 16:2).
HISTORY
When the
Israelites traveled from Matthew Sinai to Canaan, the ark accompanied them in
their journey through the desert. It was to be a constant reminder of the holy
presence of their God. The methods for wrapping and carrying the sacred objects
were carefully described (Numbers 4). God’s relationship with the ark was so
close that the ark seemed to be “alive.” It was if it had personal features
(Numbers 10:33-36).
The ark
clearly played an important role during the desert journey. A group of
Israelites rebelled and tried to invade Canaan on their own. Neither the ark
nor Moses went with them (Numbers 14:44). The result was defeat at the hands of
their enemies (Numbers 14:45). The ark played a significant role in the
crossing of the Jordan (Joshua 3:13-17; Joshua 4:9-10), the conquest of Jericho
(Joshua 6:6-11), and the life of the Israelites in their new land (Joshua 8:33;
Judges 20:27). There is no hint of superstitious or magical use of the ark.
Instead, it signified awe. It was the container of God’s “testimony” and the
pledge of his presence.
A sharp
contrast to the role of the ark in Joshua’s day is found in later times.
Religious life in Israel was at a low point in the days of Eli and his sons.
This was at the end of the period of the judges. The ark was still respected
but looked upon as a magical power to ensure automatic success or victory. When
losing a battle with the Philistines, the Israelites rushed the sacred chest to
the battlefield. They hoped to gain a victory (1 Samuel 4:1-10). But the Lord
did not allow tolerate such obvious misuse of the ark. He allowed it to be
captured by the uncircumcised Philistines (1 Samuel 4:11). They inflicted
defeat on Israel and death on the house of the high priest Eli (1 Samuel
4:13-22).
At the same
time, God defended the honor of the ark when it was offered to Dagon, the god
of the Philistines. The account of the efforts of the pagan Philistines to get
rid of the ark is humorous (1 Samuel 5–6). This story dramatically illustrated
that the Holy Ark could neither be treated superstitiously by God’s people nor
mocked by his enemies.
Samuel, a great
reformer and prophet, made no attempt to restore the ark to its rightful place
after it was returned to Israel. He allowed it to remain in Kiriath-jearim (1
Samuel 6:21; 1 Samuel 7:2). Samuel first had to get Israel to obey God’s
covenant before the Ark of the Covenant could be of any use. David, who was
called a king after God’s own heart, made efforts to bring the ark back to a
prominent place (2 Samuel 6:1-17). It may have been to David’s political
advantage to add prestige to his newly established capital, Jerusalem. But
Psalm 132 describes David’s concern for the honor of God and for the ark. In a
moment of great religious joy and enthusiasm he addressed God directly: “Arise,
O LORD, and go to thy resting place, thou and the ark of thy might” (verse 8,
RSV). To David, the ark had been “restless” as long as Israel had not yet
obtained its “rest.” That is, Canaan had not been completely conquered. By
conquering Jerusalem, David virtually completed the conquest of the Promised
Land. Finally the land had rest and the Lord could then “dwell” in his temple,
the suitable resting place for the ark. Nevertheless, David’s desire to build a
temple for the ark was not granted (2 Samuel 7:1-17). He was told that his son
Solomon would build a home for the ark and for the Lord. Solomon built a
magnificent temple with a place for the ark in the most holy part, behind the
curtains (1 Kings 8:1-11).
