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Summary
- The ark of the covenant was a chest of acacia wood overlaid with gold, about 3¾ feet long and 2¼ feet wide and high, with a gold lid called the mercy seat and two gold cherubim on it (Exodus 25:10–22).
- It held the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. Hebrews 9:4 adds a jar of manna and Aaron’s staff; 1 Kings 8:9 says only the tablets were inside when it entered Solomon’s temple.
- God promised to meet Moses above the mercy seat, and only the Levites could carry the ark, with poles. Uzzah died after touching it (2 Samuel 6:6–7).
- It led Israel through the wilderness, across the Jordan and around Jericho, was captured by the Philistines, and was brought to Jerusalem by David and into the temple by Solomon.
- Its fate is unknown. 2 Maccabees says Jeremiah hid it in a cave; the Ethiopian Orthodox Church says it is kept at Aksum.
- Hebrews calls the mercy seat by the word Paul uses for Christ as the “propitiation” (Romans 3:25), and Catholic teaching calls Mary the ark of the covenant (Catechism 2676).
Bibliography (Click to show)
- Scripture quotations from the English Standard Version (Exodus 16:34; 25:15, 20, 21, 22; 37:1; Numbers 4:15; 10:33, 35; 17:10; Deuteronomy 10:5; 31:26; Joshua 3:16; 6:20; 1 Samuel 4:3, 4, 22; 6:19; 2 Samuel 6:7, 9, 11, 14; 1 Kings 8:6, 9; 1 Chronicles 15:15; 2 Chronicles 35:3; Jeremiah 3:16; Leviticus 16:14; Luke 1:43, 56; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:4; Revelation 11:19). Other passages described: Exodus 25:10–19; Numbers 4:5–6; 1 Chronicles 15:2; Joshua 3:15, 17; 6:6; 1 Samuel 4:21; 5:2–4; 6:1; 7:1–2; 2 Samuel 6:6; 2 Kings 25:9, 13–17; Leviticus 16:15, 34. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/English-Standard-Version-ESV-Bible/
- 2 Maccabees 2:4–7, Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Maccabees+2%3A4-8&version=RSVCE
- Blue Letter Bible, Strong’s H727, ‘ārôn. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h727/esv/wlc/0-1/
- Blue Letter Bible, Strong’s H8392, tēḇâ. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8392/esv/wlc/0-1/
- Blue Letter Bible, Strong’s G2435, hilastērion. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2435/esv/mgnt/0-1/
- “Ark,” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/ark
- Mishnah Yoma 5:2, William Davidson Edition, Sefaria. https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Yoma.5.2
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2676. https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_four/section_one/chapter_two/article_2/the_way_of_prayer.html
- “Ark of the Covenant,” Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ark-of-the-Covenant
- “Where Is the Ark of the Covenant?,” Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/story/where-is-the-ark-of-the-covenant
- “Cubit,” Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/cubit
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