The Ark of the Covenant

By Colleen Podmore

What is the ark?

What is the first item of furniture that Moses commanded the Israelites to make for the Tabernacle?

• Wooden chest or ark 4ftx2 1/2ft x 2 1/2ft. Made of acacia wood which is darker and harder than oak and common in the Sinai Peninsula.
• Overlaid inside and out with gold (Ex 37:2)
• Different word used to that of Moses’ basket and Noah’s ark

What was placed in the Ark?

• Stone tablets with the 10 Commandments written on them
• Also called Ark of the Testimony or Covenant
• The jar of manna and Aaron’s rod may have been placed near the Ark or in the Ark (Heb 9:4 cf Numb 17:10, Ex 16:33-34

What was placed on the top of the Ark?

• Atonement cover or mercy seat (cf Jesus’ ‘sacrifice of atonement – Romans 3:25)
• Two cherubim (2nd tier of angels after seraphim), characterised by 4 wings covered with eyes, faces of human, lion, bull, eagle. Purpose is to guard (cf Genesis 3:24) Lucifer was anointed a guardian cherub (Ez 28:14-16). In this case they were guarding a sacred place -the ‘mercy seat’.

Where was the Ark of the Covenant kept and how many times a year did the priest go into this room?

• Holy of Holies, once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the 10th day of the 7th month (Lev 16:15-17; 23:26-32;Numb 29:7-11 cf Rom 3:24-26; Heb 9:7;10:3), to cleanse priests and people from their sins and purify the Holy Place.

What was the purpose of the Ark?

• A place where God would meet with His people (Ex25:22; 30:6)
What was placed in front of the Ark?
• A curtain to shield the Ark (Ex40:3,20)
Who were designated to carry the Ark and the Tabernacle furnishings?
• Kohathites – one of Levi’s sons (Ex6:16), which included Moses and Aaron. (Gershonites carried the curtains Numb 4:21 and Merarites the Tabernacle frames Numb 4:31)
Exodus 25:10-22; 37:1-9


The Journey of the Ark of the Covenant

Tabernacle & Furnishings were built at
................................. ~1446BC
Ex 25:10-22; 37:1-9


Moved wherever Israelites went – 40yrs in the desert


After Joshua defeated Jericho, he camped at ...........................
Joshua 4:19; 5;10; 14:6

• The Ark was carried by the priests to cross the River Jordon
• It was carried around Jericho seven times
• Circumcision at Gilgal
• Celebration of Passover
• Covenant renewed at Mt Ebal & Mt Gerazim

Time of the Judges 1375-1050BC


Tabernacle moved to
........................................
Joshua 18:1
1Samuel 1:3, 3:3


Tabernacle at
.....................
Judges 20:27


Ark is taken into battle 1Sam 4:3


Ark captured by
...........................
1 Sam 4:11


Ark is returned to
...........................
1Sam 6:14,15
70 people die because they look inside the Ark



The people of ......................................
come and take the Ark.
1 Sam 7:1
*It is left at Abinadab’s house and his son Eleazer guards it
*a city of Gibeonites (Josh 9:17)
*stays here for 20yrs


David brings the Ark to Jerusalem but after Uzzah is struck dead he leaves it at the house of ..........................................
2Sam 6:10,11

• The Ark remains at the house for 3months.


David carries the Ark and places it in a tent in.................................................
2 Sam 6:17


.................. builds the Temple and the Ark is placed in the Holy of Holies between the Cheribim. 970-930BC
1 Kings 8:1-9


During .............. reforms, the Ark is returned to the Temple. 640BC
• 300yrs later, the Temple is in need of repairs


Temple is destroyed by .................................................................
In 586BC.
• Exiles are taken to Babylon
• Some of the Temple dishes are inventoried and returned but the Ark is destroyed, hidden or lost
• The Ark is not in the 2nd Temple
• It is not in Herods’ temple 500yrs later

References: NIV Study Bible; Bible Dictionary. Intervarsity Fellowship


Application of the Ark in our lives

It is interesting to think about the parallels between the Tabernacle and all it’s furnishings and our lives.

For example. The Ark of the Covenant is where mercy is received, where God meets with His people, where the Law is kept. It is a sacred place, shielded by the curtain in the most important part of the Tabernacle. Eli’s son’s were struck dead for bringing unholy fire to the Holy Place. The people of Beth Shemesh wer e struck dead for looking inside the Ark. Uzzah was struck dead when he reached up to steady it on the cart. The Ark is guarded by two guardian angels, the cherubim.

Which part of our lives do you think the Ark might represent? Our hearts.
Similarly, in the Holy Place, there is light from the lamp to see by, food to eat, prayers to be said and that could be similar to our minds, understanding, knowledge, communion with God.
In the outer court is the Bronze Altar, where burnt offerings are made, symbols of worship, thanksgiving and praise – our voices.

The curtains around the outside may be like our clothes that shield our bodies and provide modesty and dignity.

The sacrifice for sins is made outside the Tabernacle. As Sylvie shared with us last week, the blood was brought into the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement, Yom kippur by the High Priest and sprinkled on the mercy seat to atone for his sins, the sins of the people and the Holy Place.

In the same way, Jesus was crucified outside the city and He Himself took His blood into the throne room of God, on which the Tabernacle is a copy, where it was accepted as a propitiation for sins, our sins. God the Father accepted His sacrifice and the pure blood, we know because Jesus was sinless, the perfect sacrifice and in response God the Father raised Jesus from the dead, showing also His great love for us, ‘in this, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us’ (Romans 5:8)

In a similar way our hearts are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus and we receive mercy and forgiveness and much much more when we are born again or accept Christ as our Saviour.
Furthermore, it says in the Bible that the shielding curtain in front of the Ark was torn in two, providing direct access to God without the need of a mediator. (Although the Ark was there figuratively, not literally – unless they made a copy?)

The Ark represented the presence and authority of Yahweh, the God of Israel and indeed the Creator of all things, our God, Jesus.

One last observation, as we have shown in our study, the Ark moved from place to place, sometimes a powerful manifestation of God, other times neglected and put aside, even captured by the enemy. Where is your Ark today? Our hearts are where God dwells by His Spirit and the Bible says to guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life (Prov 4:23)...don’t let anything defile it, don’t let the enemy capture it, set it aside as holy......Let’s pray.