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The ark of the covenant is more than Biblical history; it is mythical. While the Bible is silent on the ark’s ultimate fate, there are still centuries of history covered in the Bible that detail its construction, what was inside, and how its presence testified to the power of God. Here are six facts about the Ark of the Covenant.

Bible Study6 Things You May Not Know about the Ark of the CovenantWhile the Bible is silent on the ark’s ultimate fate, there are still centuries of history covered in the Bible that detail its construction, use of worship, and how its presence testified to the power of God. Here are six...Bethany VerrettUpdated Aug 26, 2024 : Follow topic Follow this topic Log in to your existing account or sign up today!Sign up to start following Log In Follow author Follow this author Log in to your existing account or sign up today!Sign up to start following Log In Log in to your existing account or sign up today!Sign up to start saving Log InThe ark of the covenant is more than Biblical history; it is mythical. Elevated to soaring heights of fantasy and legend after disappearing centuries ago, people have long sought to discover the truth about it. Hollywood even elevated it to superstardom by making it the primary focus of the Stephen Spielberg blockbuster "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark." While a fun time, the film fails to capture the spiritual significance of the golden chest. Because it disappeared, many misconceptions about God’s ark arose.While the Bible is silent on the ark’s ultimate fate, there are still centuries of history covered in the Bible that detail its construction, use of worship, and how its presence testified to the power of God.What Is the Ark of the Covenant?Before we dive into some facts you may not know about the Ark of the Covenant, we first have to establish what it is. The Ark of the Covenant was a housing vessel for the Lord. Depictions of this rectangular container often had angels atop it with their wings touching. The top of the Ark was known as the Mercy Seat.Priests would often have to carry the Ark with long poles. If they accidentally touched it, they would instantly die. The reason for this is because God's glory and presence cannot be touched by man. Our sinful natures cause us to keel over if we come into the presence of the Lord, without the Holy Spirit residing within us.Inside the Ark sat the Ten Commandments, Aaron's staff, and a jar of manna. Each of these represented something important (the law, the priesthood, and God's provision, conjectured by theologians).What Is the History of the Ark of the Covenant? Most of the time, since its creation, the Ark of the Covenant stays within the Tabernacle (a moving temple) and later the temple. But sometimes, throughout Israel's history, the Ark goes on the move.For instance, the Philistines manage to capture the Ark during Samuel's childhood and take it to their god Dagon, until the Ark causes a plague in their land and breaks their idol statue. During another instance in David's reign, the Israelites attempt to return the Ark, but because a man tries to stop the Ark from falling with his bare hands, he dies.Sadly, the Ark disappears from the narrative when the Babylonians sack Jerusalem and destroy the temple. The Ark goes missing from the narrative then.Now that we've established the identity and historical context of the Ark, are six facts about the Ark of the Covenant:Specification and DimensionsMuch like we have the exact dimensions and instructions for Noah’s ark in Genesis, Exodus 25:10-22 describes the process and the parameters for the creation of the chest. The chapter begins, “The Lord said to Moses”, and begins to outline God’s specifications for the creation of objects to be used in worship. The ark is the first one described.Made from a base of acacia wood - a hardwood, scratch-resistant, and known for its durability - it had a gold overlay. The poles used to carry the ark were of the same material. On top of the ark, was the mercy seat, or kapporeth in Hebrew. The Lord commanded: “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold...And you shall make two cherubim of gold...Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends” (Exodus 25:17-19). God’s presence settled on the mercy seat when it came into the tabernacle to be with the nation of Israel. The Three Important Artifacts inside the ArkThese were the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s budded staff, and manna. As a container vessel, the ark carried artifacts that spoke to key moments during Israel’s time in the wilderness. The second set of stone tablets represented the law - the Old Testament standard of righteousness. Moses smashed the original tablets in Exodus 32 after the Israelites made the golden calf to worship.The rod of Aaron was the same rod which God turned into a serpent before Pharaoh. However, the moment noted more significant by the writer of Hebrews, was the budding and flowering of the rod. In Numbers, the people of Israel began to grumble against Moses and Aaron’s leadership, and the Lord had just struck down a group of rebels. To prove the chosen priesthood of Aaron and his line, the Lord commanded the tribes of Israel to set out twelve staffs, with Aaron’s representing the tribe of Levi, the tribe God appointed to the pr...

The Ark of the Covenant - 6 Bible Facts to Know