The Ark of the Covenant
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Bezaleel Son of URI,grandson of Hur, constructed the entire Tabernacle – the portable Temple used in the desert and during the conquest of the land of Israel. The Tabernacle was the resting place for the Ark, and also contained other vessels that were used in the physical worship of God.
Exod. 37:1-2
The Ark was a box with the dimensions of two-and-a-half cubits in length, by one-and-a-half cubits in heights, by one-and-a-half cubits in width (a cubit is about 18 inches). It was constructed of acacia wood, and was plated with pure gold, inside and out. On the bottom of the box, four gold rings were attached, through which two poles, also made of acacia and coated in gold, were put. The family of Kehath, of the tribe of Levi, would carry the ark on their shoulders using these poles.
Covering the box was the kapporet, a pure gold covering that was two-and-a-half by one-and-a-half cubits. Attached to the kapporet were two sculpted Cherubs, also made of pure gold. The two Cherubs faced one another, and their wings, which wrapped around their bodies, touched between them.
The contents of the Ark has been debated through the centuries. The general consensus is that the first tablets containing the Ten Commandments, which were broken by Moses, and the second tablets, which remained intact, were contained in the Ark. According to one source in the Talmud, both Tablets were together in the Ark; and according to another source; there were two Arks, and each contained one set of Tablets.
The Ark was moved into the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle, and later in the Temple, it was accessible only once a year, and then, only by one person. On the feast of Yom Kippur, the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies to ask forgiveness for himself and for all the nation of Israel. Lev. 16:2
The Ark was constantly accompanied by clouds, When God spoke from between the Cherubs, there was a glowing cloud visible there. When the Jews traveled, they were led by the Ark and a pillar of clouds at night, the pillar of clouds was replaced by a pillar of fire, another common descriptor of God's appearance, and when the High Priest entered presence of the Ark on the feast of Yom Kippur, did the High Priest only under the cover of a cloud of incense, perhaps intended to mask the sight of the Shekinah in all its glory. Exod. 24:14, 40:35, Num. 10:34, Lev. 16:13.
The Ark was the physical focus of the Divine Presence of God. ( Shekinah). The greatest glory and treasure of the Temple was the Divine Presence which dwelt above the Ark in the Holy of Hollies. The Lord said that His Divine Presence- His Shekinah Glory, would dwell with the Ark. God's Shekinah Glory dwelt on the Mercy Seat and guided and protected Israel, it symbolizes Christ the Messiah who would fulfill God's Covenant with His People.
Exod. 37:1-2
The Ark was a box with the dimensions of two-and-a-half cubits in length, by one-and-a-half cubits in heights, by one-and-a-half cubits in width (a cubit is about 18 inches). It was constructed of acacia wood, and was plated with pure gold, inside and out. On the bottom of the box, four gold rings were attached, through which two poles, also made of acacia and coated in gold, were put. The family of Kehath, of the tribe of Levi, would carry the ark on their shoulders using these poles.
Covering the box was the kapporet, a pure gold covering that was two-and-a-half by one-and-a-half cubits. Attached to the kapporet were two sculpted Cherubs, also made of pure gold. The two Cherubs faced one another, and their wings, which wrapped around their bodies, touched between them.
The contents of the Ark has been debated through the centuries. The general consensus is that the first tablets containing the Ten Commandments, which were broken by Moses, and the second tablets, which remained intact, were contained in the Ark. According to one source in the Talmud, both Tablets were together in the Ark; and according to another source; there were two Arks, and each contained one set of Tablets.
The Ark was moved into the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle, and later in the Temple, it was accessible only once a year, and then, only by one person. On the feast of Yom Kippur, the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies to ask forgiveness for himself and for all the nation of Israel. Lev. 16:2
The Ark was constantly accompanied by clouds, When God spoke from between the Cherubs, there was a glowing cloud visible there. When the Jews traveled, they were led by the Ark and a pillar of clouds at night, the pillar of clouds was replaced by a pillar of fire, another common descriptor of God's appearance, and when the High Priest entered presence of the Ark on the feast of Yom Kippur, did the High Priest only under the cover of a cloud of incense, perhaps intended to mask the sight of the Shekinah in all its glory. Exod. 24:14, 40:35, Num. 10:34, Lev. 16:13.
The Ark was the physical focus of the Divine Presence of God. ( Shekinah). The greatest glory and treasure of the Temple was the Divine Presence which dwelt above the Ark in the Holy of Hollies. The Lord said that His Divine Presence- His Shekinah Glory, would dwell with the Ark. God's Shekinah Glory dwelt on the Mercy Seat and guided and protected Israel, it symbolizes Christ the Messiah who would fulfill God's Covenant with His People.