Êxodo 25
F.B. Meyer · Citado em PreceptAustin
Êxodo 25
Meyer writes The Hebrews were meant to feel that the God of their fathers was a fellow-pilgrim, that where they pitched He pitched, that their enemies, difficulties, and long toilsome marches were His.” Currid states: Later, we see that every individual aspect of the design is spelt out (Exod 35:10-19) and these instructions are exhaustive in detail. The erection of the structure thus reflects the divine will alone, with nothing left to the imagination of the builders. It is often assumed, then, that God merely provided for Moses, in a sense, exact blueprints for what is to be built. But, in reality, it was much more than that - the word 'pattern' almost exclusively refers to an imitation of something that already exists in reality. The tabernacle, then, is modelled upon something else. It is a replica of a celestial archetype - that is, the heavenly sanctuary. (For further textual support of this idea, see Micah 1:2-3 and, especially, Heb. 9:23-24.) (Exodus - EPSC) George Bush on pattern - In the present instance, we do not indeed imagine that there was any miniature model in wood or stone of the Tabernacle made by Omnipotence and shown to Moses; but we do suppose that the supernatural spectacle presented to his view was so ordered as to convey to his mind all the impression which would have been produced by an actual objective presentation of the scenery to his outward senses in the form of substantial realities. On this strong, clear, and vivid impression of the objects seen, we suppose the use of the term model or pattern was founded. The vision was to him in the place of a pattern. (Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Exodus Volume 2) Phillip Ryken - The reason God was so attentive to detail was that this building was designed to teach something about his character and about what it means to have a relationship with him. Furthermore, the tabernacle was used for his holy worship, and God always has the right to determine exactly how he wants to be worshiped....how can we gain access to God? The answer is that he has come to live with us in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ. This was the purpose of his incarnation. According to the Gospel of John, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14a).The word John uses for “dwelling” is central to our whole understanding of Exodus. It is the Greek word for tabernacle (skene). Thus the Bible makes an explicit connection between the tabernacle in Exodus and the coming of Christ. Jesus Christ is the tabernacle of God. God gave us his Son, just as he gave Israel the tabernacle, so that he could come and live with us. Only this time he didn’t just pitch his tent—he took on our own flesh and blood! The old tabernacle was a visual aid to show what kind of relationship God wants to have with his people. (PW-Ex) Currid - the word ‘pattern’ almost exclusively refers to an imitation of something that already exists in reality. The tabernacle, then, is modeled upon something else. It is a replica of a celestial archetype—that is, the heavenly sanctuary. (For further textual support of this idea, see Micah 1:2–3 and, especially, Heb. 9:23–24.) (Exodus - EPSC) Tabernacle (Dwelling) (04908)(mishkan from verb shakan = to settle down, to abide, to dwell) is a masculine noun which means dwelling place or sanctuary and is most often translated "tabernacle." And in over half of the uses mishkan was preceded by the definite article which conveyed the sense that it was "the tabernacle," not just any tabernacle, but is the one where Jehovah dwelt. In the first use Jehovah declares His intent to dwell (Hebrew = shakan) among Israel (Ex 25:8, Lev 26:11), for which He instructs them to construct the tabernacle (Ex 25:9). This word is rarely used of human dwellings. The Septuagint (Lxx) translates mishkan here with the noun skene which describes a temporary lodging place. The related verb skenoo is used to describe Jesus "tabernacling" with men - "And the Word (Jn 1:1-3) became flesh, and dwelt (skenoo) among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (Jn 1:14+) The verb from which mishkan is derived is shakan which gives rise to the term Shekinah (wikipedia), not found in the Bible but introduced in the Talmudic literature to describe the cloud of glory over the Holy of holies in the Tabernacle (and later the Temple), which was the visual manifestation of the presence of Jehovah (See on site discussion of the Shekinah glory cloud) Tabernacle - 130x in 129v - dwelling(1), dwelling place(8), dwelling places(9), dwellings(9), resting place(1), tabernacle(109), tents(1), where...dwells(1). Ex 25:9; Ex 26:1; Ex 26:6; Ex 26:7; Ex 26:12; Ex 26:13; Ex 26:15; Ex 26:17; Ex 26:18; Ex 26:20; Ex 26:22; Ex 26:23; Ex 26:26; Ex 26:27; Ex 26:30; Ex 26:35; Ex 27:9; Ex 27:19; Ex 35:11; Ex 35:15; Ex 35:18; Ex 36:8; Ex 36:13; Ex 36:14; Ex 36:20; Ex 36:22; Ex 36:23; Ex 36:25; Ex 36:27; Ex 36:28; Ex 36:31; Ex 36:32; Ex 38:20; Ex 38:21; Ex 38:31; Ex 39:32; Ex 39:33; Ex 39:40; Ex 40:2; Ex 40:5; Ex 40:6; Ex 40:9; Ex 40:17; Ex 40:18; Ex 40:19; Ex 40:21; Ex 40:22; Ex 40:24; Ex 40:28; Ex 40:29; Ex 40:33; Ex 40:34; Ex 40:35; Ex 40:36; Ex 40:38; Lev. 8:10; Lev. 15:31; Lev. 17:4; Lev. 26:11; Nu 1:50; Nu 1:51; Nu 1:53; Nu 3:7; Nu 3:8; Nu 3:23; Nu 3:25; Nu 3:26; Nu 3:29; Nu 3:35; Nu 3:36; Nu 3:38; Nu 4:16; Nu 4:25; Nu 4:26; Nu 4:31; Nu 5:17; Nu 7:1; Nu 7:3; Nu 9:15; Nu 9:18; Nu 9:19; Nu 9:20; Nu 9:22; Nu 10:11; Nu 10:17; Nu 10:21; Nu 16:9; Nu 16:24; Nu 16:27; Nu 17:13; Nu 19:13; Nu 24:5; Nu 31:30; Nu 31:47; Jos. 22:19; Jos. 22:29; 2 Sam. 7:6; 1 Chr. 6:32; 1 Chr. 6:48; 1 Chr. 16:39; 1 Chr. 17:5; 1 Chr. 21:29; 1 Chr. 23:26; 2 Chr. 1:5; 2 Chr. 29:6; Job 18:21; Job 21:28; Job 39:6; Ps. 26:8; Ps. 43:3; Ps. 46:4; Ps. 49:11; Ps. 74:7; Ps. 78:28; Ps. 78:60; Ps. 84:1; Ps. 87:2; Ps. 132:5; Ps. 132:7; Song 1:8; Isa. 22:16; Isa. 32:18; Isa. 54:2; Jer. 9:19; Jer. 30:18; Jer. 51:30; Ezek. 25:4; Ezek. 37:27; Hab. 1:6 Bush - The term תבנית tabnith, comes from בנה banah, to build, and properly signifies in this connexion a model, a prototype, an exemplar, implying something sensible, corporeal, or substantial in contradistinction from דמות demuth, a likeness, which is applied rather in the general sense of representation, picture, or image, than of a framed model of any kind of structure. The distinction is very clearly indicated in 2 Kings, 16:10, ‘And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion (דמות demuth) of the altar, and the pattern (תבנית tabnith) of it, according to all the workmanship thereof;’ where תבנית undoubtedly signifies a model, and דמות some other kind of representation, either verbal or pictorial. In like manner we find a striking parallel, not only to the phrase, but to the general fact here recorded, in the history of the building of the Temple, 1 Chr 28:11, 12, ‘Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern (תבנית) of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasures thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlors thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, and the pattern (תבנית) of all he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things.’ (Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Exodus Volume 2) And the pattern of all its furniture - So not just the tabernacle enclosure but the furnishing are all clearly specified to Moses by God. Pattern (08403)(tabnith from banah = to build) construction, pattern, figure. Baker - Tabnith refers to the plans of a building or an object, such as the pattern of the Tabernacle and its contents (Ex. 25:9, 40); an altar (Josh. 22:28; 2 Ki. 16:10); and the Temple and its contents (1 Chr. 28:11, 12, 18, 19). However, in other contexts, it refers to an image that was patterned after something else, such as a graven image of a god (Deut. 4:16-18); the calf at Horeb (Ps. 106:20); pillars (Ps. 144:12); or a person (Isa. 44:13). In a few contexts, it refers to something in the form of an animal (Ezek. 8:10); or a hand (Ezek. 8:3; 10:8). (Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament) Tabnith - 19x in 16v - copy(1), form(4), image(1), likeness(5), model(2), pattern(4), plan(2). Exod. 25:9; Exod. 25:40; Deut. 4:16; Deut. 4:17; Deut. 4:18; Jos. 22:28; 2 Ki. 16:10; 1 Chr. 28:11-12; 1 Chr. 28:18; 1 Chr. 28:19; Ps. 106:20; Isa. 44:13; Ezek. 8:3; Ezek. 8:10; Ezek. 10:8 Just so you shall construct it - The attention to detail is emphasized. O joy of joys, O grace of grace, That God should condescend To make my heart His dwelling-place And be my dearest Friend! M. R.
Êxodo 25
Meyer - Exodus 25:9 According to all that I shew thee,... even so shall ye make it. It was clear that God would only be responsible for the material that was needed for his plan. If Moses, or the people, insisted on putting in more than was in his original plan, they would have to bear the anxiety of securing the stuff. This is our mistake. We incur responsibilities that God does not put on us; we burden our hearts with anxiety and care because we insist on introducing so many items into our daily life, which would not have been there if we had but been content with God’s pattern, and acquiesced in his program. This injunction is repeated in four different passages, showing the importance with which God regards it. Indeed, to be on God’s plan is the only place of rightness, safety, and joy. God’s plan in our character. — It is presented in the human life of Jesus. We are to walk as He walked. Having been called according to his purpose, let us never rest content with anything less than being conformed to the image of God’s Son. God’s plan in our Christian service. — Not seeking to resemble some other devoted life; but endeavoring to be as God would have us, the embodiment of his thought, the expression of his conception. Then our efforts will be crowned with success, and we shall bear much fruit to the glory of God. God’s plan for every day. — He has prepared a scheme for the employment of every hour, and will show it to us by the indication of his Spirit, or by the trend of circumstances. Let us abide in Him, doing nothing that He does not teach, doing all He does. So life will become a tabernacle, in which the Shechinah will shine and sacrifices be offered. Exodus 25:10 "They shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. an ark: Ex 37:1-3 De 10:1-3 2Ch 8:11 Heb 9:4 Rev 11:19 Exodus 25 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Ark of the Covenant THE MOST IMPORTANT FURNISHING - THE ARK The first article within the Tabernacle is clearly the most important as it symbolizes God's presence in their midst. Ex 25:10-15 give instructions concerning the Ark, Ex 25:16 the placement of the Ark, Ex 25:17-21 the mercy seat on the Ark and Ex 25:22 God's promise to meet above the mercy seat. Note that that Noah's ark (Ge 6:14) and the "ark" Moses floated in as a baby (Ex 2:3) is a different word (tebah) then used here (aron) which actually is more accurately described as a "chest." NET Note on the Ark - The point of this item in the tabernacle is to underscore the focus: the covenant people must always have God’s holy standard before them as they draw near to worship. A study of this would focus on God’s nature (he is a God of order, precision, and perfection), on the usefulness of this item for worship, and on the typology intended. They shall construct an ark of acacia wood - The Ark would eventually be within the inner room, the Holy of Holies and would contain the tablets of law (Ex 25:16), Aaron's rod that budded (Nu 17:5-9,10, Heb 9:4) and a golden pot of manna (Ex 16:33-34+). It should be noted that by the time of King Solomon we discover "There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt." (1 Ki 8:9) The other two items had either been lost or removed for unknown reasons. This is one of those many questions we may have answered in Heaven some day! Currid has an interesting comment (and see Bush's comment below) - It is widely recognized that the design of the ark (and the entire tabernacle, for that matter) is distinctly Egyptian. That is not a problem, since God may have used a pattern, or model, which the Hebrews were accustomed to seeing, and making, as artisans in Egypt. (Exodus - EPSC) Third Millennium notes - MacKay comments saying, "'Ark' is an older English word for a chest or box, and that is what the Ark itself basically was." (Exodus: A Mentor Commentary) Enns adds, "The ark is the focus of God's presence with his people, the central point of contact between heaven and the tabernacle, the earthly symbol of heaven." It contained the Ten Commandment, the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod (Exod 16:33; 25:16; Num 17:10; Deut 10:15; Heb 9:4). The cover of the ark was viewed as the royal footstool of the Lord (1 Chron 28:2). Thus the Lord was the one "enthroned between the cherubim" (1 Sam 4:4; see Exod 29:43-46; 2Sa 6:2; 2 Kings 19:15; Psa 80:1; 99:1; Isa 37:16). Thompson - The ark is referred to over 200 times in the O. T. by different titles: the ark; the ark of Jehovah; the ark of God; the ark of the covenant; and the ark of the testimony. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW SANCTUARY, THE FIRST THING GOD WANTED MADE WAS THE ARK-BOX-CHEST THAT WOULD CAUSE ALL OF HIS PEOPLE TO FOCUS ON HIS WRITTEN WORD AND HIS GREAT MERCY . (Sermon) Spurgeon on construct an ark of acacia wood - The ark of the covenant was the most sacred object in the tabernacle in the wilderness. It stood at the extreme end of the most holy place. It was the place over which the bright shining light called the Shekinah, which was the token of God’s presence, shone forth. The ark was doubtless a type of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was a sacred chest made to contain the law of God. Blessed are they who know the law in Christ. Out of Christ the law condemns. In Christ it becomes a blessed guide to us. This ark was made of wood, perhaps to typify the human nature of our blessed Lord. But it was of wood which did not rot—acacia, which resists the worm. Truly in him there was no corruption in life by way of sin, and no corruption sullied him in death when he slept for a while in the grave. Wood is a thing that grows out of the earth, even as Jesus sprang up like a root out of a dry ground. The ark must be made of the best kind of wood—no presence of rot and untainted. Yet the ark, though made of wood, did not appear to be so, for it was completely overlaid with pure gold so that the deity or perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ could be seen. The ark was of acacia wood, yet it was an ark of gold—and he, who was truly man, was just as truly God. Thompson on acacia wood - (see sample of floor of acacia) Acacia wood is a wood that comes from a shrub/tree that is found in warm, hot regions of the world. It has very deep roots that are capable of drawing moisture and water from deep in the ground, something other plants and trees cannot do. This type of wood came from a shrub/tree that grew plentifully in the desert regions of the Sinai Peninsula and Israel. Acacia wood is known to be an extremely strong and dense wood. One writer said this is a “great option” of wood for “any type of construction.” This wood is resistant to decay; it is not a palatable wood to insects and it is so dense that it cannot be penetrated by water. Now some types of woods can splinter and crack, but acacia wood was a type of wood that could be cut and shaped and it would maintain its integrity. Now to give us an idea of how tough this wood is, we would do well to realize that this tabernacle that was about to be constructed would last for the next 400-500 years until the Temple would be built by Solomon. Frankly, there are not too many types of wood in the world that could hold up for 400-500 years. Since God made the trees and knew about all types of wood, He is the One who deemed that His ark/chest be made from this wood. Two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high - The cubit is thought to be about 18 inches, so the dimensions of the are are approximately 3 ft. 9 in. (1.1 metres) long, 2 ft. 3 in. (0.7 meter) wide, and 2 ft. 3 in. (0.7 meter) high. Ark (0727)(aron) means a chest, a box (first use was coffin for Joseph's body - Ge 50:26), a container for funds to repair the Temple in (2 Ki 12:10-11, 2 Chr 24:8, 10-11). It is used most often of the Ark in the Holy of Holies and is first called the Ark of the Covenant in Nu 10:33. Jack Lewis on aron - As described in Exodus, Bezaleel made the ark of acacia wood. There were gold rings on the corners through which staves were placed for carrying it (Exodus 25:10-21; Exodus 37:1-9). In size the ark was 2 1/2 by 1 1/2 by 1 1/2 cubits, and was overlaid inside and out with gold (Exodus 25:11). It was surmounted by the mercy seat (kappōret) and cherubim with outstretched wings. The ark contained the tables of stone with the law (Deut. 10:1-5; Exodus 40:20), a pot of manna, and Aaron's rod which budded (Hebrews 9:4). The Damascus Document, fragments of which were found at Qumran, has the peculiar tradition that a copy of the Law was in the ark and it was sealed, which explains why David had not read it! (C.D.C. 5, 3). The ark was set in the most holy place in the tabernacle. In the wilderness the ark was carried by the Levites (Deut. 10:8) before the line of march. A liturgical formula was recited when it was transported (Numbers 10:35-36). The ark was prominent at the crossing of the Jordan (Joshua 3-4) and in the capture of Jericho (Joshua 6-7). It was at Gilgal (Joshua 7:6), Shechem (Joshua 8:33), Bethel (Judges 20:27-28), and later Shiloh (1 Samuel 3:3). It was carried into battle against the Philistines at Aphek. They captured it (1 Samuel 4:3-11) but it caused plagues in the Philistine cities (1 Samuel 6:3-4). It was returned to Israel and for twenty years remained in the house of Abinadab at Kiriathjearim. Finally David brought it up to Jerusalem (1 Samuel 7:1-2; 2 Samuel 6:1ff.; Psalm 132:18). Helping move the ark, Uzzah fell dead for touching it (2 Samuel 6:6-11). After that incident, it remained three months at the house of Obed edom. Later it was carried on a military expedition against the Ammonites (on one interpretation of 2 Samuel 11:11), but it remained in Jerusalem at Absalom's revolt (2 Samuel 15:24f.). Solomon placed it in the holy of holies of the temple (1 Kings 8). The ultimate fate of the ark is a mystery. Jeremiah 3:16-17 may imply its existence as late as the time of Nebuchadnezzar. It was the subject of later Jewish legend (2 Macc. 2:4f.; T. Sota 13:1; The Lives of the Prophets, ed. Torrey, I, p. 36). There was no ark in either Zerubbabel's or Herod's temple (cf. Josephus, Wars 5.5.5). Often designated "the ark" (hā-ʾārôn), it is also "the ark of the Lord" (Joshua 4:11, etc.) and "the ark of God" (1 Samuel 3:3, etc.). It is called "the ark of the God of Israel" by the Philistines (1 Samuel 5:2-11, etc.). The ark is most often "the ark of the covenant" (’ārôn habberît, Numbers 10:33, etc., 184 times), "the ark of the testimony" (ʾārôn ha-ʿēdût, Exodus 25:22, etc.; 13 times); "the ark of thy might" (Psalm 132:8), and once "the holy ark" (ʾārôn haqqōdesh; 2 Chron. 35:3). (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament) Aron -201x in 174v - ark(194), chest(6), coffin(1). Gen. 50:26; Exod. 25:10; Exod. 25:14; Exod. 25:15; Exod. 25:16; Exod. 25:21; Exod. 25:22; Exod. 26:33; Exod. 26:34; Exod. 30:6; Exod. 30:26; Exod. 31:7; Exod. 35:12; Exod. 37:1; Exod. 37:5; Exod. 39:35; Exod. 40:3; Exod. 40:5; Exod. 40:20; Exod. 40:21; Lev. 16:2; Num. 3:31; Num. 4:5; Num. 7:89; Num. 10:33; Num. 10:35; Num. 14:44; Deut. 10:1; Deut. 10:2; Deut. 10:3; Deut. 10:5; Deut. 10:8; Deut. 31:9; Deut. 31:25; Deut. 31:26; Jos. 3:3; Jos. 3:6; Jos. 3:8; Jos. 3:11; Jos. 3:13; Jos. 3:14; Jos. 3:15; Jos. 3:17; Jos. 4:5; Jos. 4:7; Jos. 4:9; Jos. 4:10; Jos. 4:11; Jos. 4:16; Jos. 4:18; Jos. 6:4; Jos. 6:6; Jos. 6:7; Jos. 6:8; Jos. 6:9; Jos. 6:11; Jos. 6:12; Jos. 6:13; Jos. 7:6; Jos. 8:33; Jdg. 20:27; 1 Sam. 3:3; 1 Sam. 4:3; 1 Sam. 4:4; 1 Sam. 4:5; 1 Sam. 4:6; 1 Sam. 4:11; 1 Sam. 4:13; 1 Sam. 4:17; 1 Sam. 4:18; 1 Sam. 4:19; 1 Sam. 4:21; 1 Sam. 4:22; 1 Sam. 5:1; 1 Sam. 5:2; 1 Sam. 5:3; 1 Sam. 5:4; 1 Sam. 5:7; 1 Sam. 5:8; 1 Sam. 5:10; 1 Sam. 5:11; 1 Sam. 6:1; 1 Sam. 6:2; 1 Sam. 6:3; 1 Sam. 6:8; 1 Sam. 6:11; 1 Sam. 6:13; 1 Sam. 6:15; 1 Sam. 6:18; 1 Sam. 6:19; 1 Sam. 6:21; 1 Sam. 7:1; 1 Sam. 7:2; 1 Sam. 14:18; 2 Sam. 6:2; 2 Sam. 6:3; 2 Sam. 6:4; 2 Sam. 6:6; 2 Sam. 6:7; 2 Sam. 6:9; 2 Sam. 6:10; 2 Sam. 6:11; 2 Sam. 6:12; 2 Sam. 6:13; 2 Sam. 6:15; 2 Sam. 6:16; 2 Sam. 6:17; 2 Sam. 7:2; 2 Sam. 11:11; 2 Sam. 15:24; 2 Sam. 15:25; 2 Sam. 15:29; 1 Ki. 2:26; 1 Ki. 3:15; 1 Ki. 6:19; 1 Ki. 8:1; 1 Ki. 8:3; 1 Ki. 8:4; 1 Ki. 8:5; 1 Ki. 8:6; 1 Ki. 8:7; 1 Ki. 8:9; 1 Ki. 8:21; 2 Ki. 12:9; 2 Ki. 12:10; 1 Chr. 6:31; 1 Chr. 13:3; 1 Chr. 13:5; 1 Chr. 13:6; 1 Chr. 13:7; 1 Chr. 13:9; 1 Chr. 13:10; 1 Chr. 13:12; 1 Chr. 13:13; 1 Chr. 13:14; 1 Chr. 15:1; 1 Chr. 15:2; 1 Chr. 15:3; 1 Chr. 15:12; 1 Chr. 15:14; 1 Chr. 15:15; 1 Chr. 15:23; 1 Chr. 15:24; 1 Chr. 15:25; 1 Chr. 15:26; 1 Chr. 15:27; 1 Chr. 15:28; 1 Chr. 15:29; 1 Chr. 16:1; 1 Chr. 16:4; 1 Chr. 16:6; 1 Chr. 16:37; 1 Chr. 17:1; 1 Chr. 22:19; 1 Chr. 28:2; 1 Chr. 28:18; 2 Chr. 1:4; 2 Chr. 5:2; 2 Chr. 5:4; 2 Chr. 5:5; 2 Chr. 5:6; 2 Chr. 5:7; 2 Chr. 5:8; 2 Chr. 5:9; 2 Chr. 5:10; 2 Chr. 6:11; 2 Chr. 6:41; 2 Chr. 8:11; 2 Chr. 24:8; 2 Chr. 24:10; 2 Chr. 24:11; 2 Chr. 35:3; Ps. 132:8; Jer. 3:16 Related Resources: What is the Ark of the Covenant? American Tract Society Ark of the Covenant Charles Buck Dictionary Ark of the Covenant CARM Theological Dictionary Ark of the covenant Fausset Bible Dictionary Ark of the Covenant Holman Bible Dictionary Ark of the Covenant Smith Bible Dictionary Ark of the Covenant Watson's Theological Dictionary Ark of the Covenant International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Ark of the Covenant Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Ark of the covenant The Nuttall Encyclopedia Ark of the Covenant The Jewish Encyclopedia Ark of the Covenant Torrey's Topic the Ark of the Covenant Dimensions, &c of Exodus 25:10 ; 37:1 Entirely covered with gold Exodus 25:11 ; 37:2 Surrounded with a crown of gold Exodus 25:11 Furnished with rings and staves Exodus 25:12-15 ; 37:3-5 Tables of testimony alone placed in Exodus 25:16,21 ; 1 Kings 8:9,21 ; 2 Chronicles 5:10 ; Hebrews 9:4 Mercy-seat laid upon Exodus 25:21 ; 26:34 Placed in the Holy of Holies Exodus 26:33 ; 40:21 ; Hebrews 9:3,4 The pot of manna and Aaron's rod laid up before Hebrews 9:4 ; Exodus 16:33,34 ; Numbers 17:10 A copy of the law laid in the side of Deuteronomy 31:26 Covered with the vail by the priests before removal Numbers 4:5,6 WAS CALLED THE Ark of God 1 Samuel 3:3 Ark of God's strength 2 Chronicles 6:41 ; Psalm 132:8 Ark of the covenant of the Lord Numbers 10:33 Ark of the testimony Exodus 30:6 ; Numbers 7:89 A symbol of the presence and glory of God Numbers 14:43,44 ; Joshua 1:6 ; 1 Samuel 14:18,19 ; Psalm 132:8 Esteemed the glory of Israel 1 Samuel 4:21,22 Was holy 2 Chronicles 35:3 Sanctified its resting place 2 Chronicles 8:11 The Israelites enquired of the Lord before Joshua 7:6-9 ; Judges 20:27 ; 1 Chronicles 13:3 WAS CARRIED By priests of Levites alone Deuteronomy 10:8 ; Joshua 3:14 ; 2 Samuel 15:24 ; 1 Chronicles 15:2 Before the Israelites in their journeys Numbers 10:33 ; Joshua 3:6 Sometimes to the camp in war 1 Samuel 4:4,5 Profanation of, punished Numbers 4:5,15 ; 1 Samuel 6:19 ; 1 Chronicles 15:13 Protecting of, rewarded 1 Chronicles 13:14 Captured by the Philistines 1 Samuel 4:11 MIRACLES CONNECTED WITH Fall of the walls of Jericho Joshua 6:6-20 Fall of Dagon 1 Samuel 5:1-4 Philistines plagued 1 Samuel 5:6-12 Manner of its restoration 1 Samuel 6:1-18 At Kirjath-jearim twenty years 1 Samuel 7:1,2 Removed from Kirjath-jearim to the house of Obed-edom 2 Samuel 6:1-11 David made a tent for 2 Samuel 6:17 ; 1 Chronicles 15:1 Brought into the city of David 2 Samuel 6:12-15 ; 1 Chronicles 15:25-28 Brought by Solomon into the temple with great solemnity 1 Kings 8:1-6 ; 2 Chronicles 5:2-9 A type of Christ Psalm 40:8 ; Revelation 11:19 Exodus 25:10-22 THE INTRIGUE OF THE ARK "(God) has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts.-- 2 Corinthians 1:22 There has always been an element of mystery and intrigue surrounding the ark of the covenant. This carefully crafted box was built by the Israelites to be placed in the tabernacle during their wandering years in the wilderness. Inside it were the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's staff that had budded, and a golden jar of manna (Heb. 9:4). Atop the ark, on what was called the mercy seat, were two golden cherubim. The ark was situated inside the Most Holy Place, where once a year the high priest would stand in the very presence of God. We don't know what eventually happened to the ark and its contents, but it is intriguing to hear various reports claiming that it could still be in existence. As interesting as those unproven reports are, the real intrigue of the ark is its symbolism of God's presence. The people of Israel could experience God's presence vicariously through the high priest. That must have been a heart pounding encounter! Yet we have it better. When we accept Jesus Christ as Savior, we have the very presence of God in our heart -- through the Holy Spirit (2Cor. 1:21, 22). Almighty, matchless, glorious God, Inhabiting eternity, I bow to you and give You praise, In awe that You can live in me. -- Sper To know God's presence is to know God's power. George Bush - They shall make an ark of Shittimwood. Heb. ארון aron. From the identity of rendering, it might be thought that the ark of the Tabernacle and that of Noah were expressed by the same term in Hebrew. But such is not the case. The former is called ארון aron, and the latter תבה tebah; but the Greek having rendered both terms by κιβωτος, this has been followed by our own and many other versions. The object itself was properly a chest or coffer of shittim-wood, overlaid with gold, in which was deposited the tables of the ten commandments, together with Aaron’s rod that budded, and the golden pot of preserved manna. This chest seems to have been of the dimensions of three feet nine inches in length, by two feet three inches in breadth and depth, according to the common cubit of eighteen inches. Around the upper edge was a rim or cornice—called in the text ‘a crown’—of pure gold; and on each side were fixed rings of gold to receive the poles of shittim-wood covered with gold, by which the ark was carried from place to place. The staves always remained in the rings, even when the ark was at rest. The ark had at top a lid or cover of solid gold; for such was what the text calls ‘the mercy-seat,’ and which the Septuagint renders ἱλαστήριον or the propitiatory, by which name it is mentioned by St. Paul in Heb. 9:4, and which was probably so called, because, on the great day of atonement, the blood of the expiatory sacrifice was sprinkled on or before it. Upon the two ends of this lid, and of the same matter with it, that is, solid gold, were placed two figures of cherubim which looked towards each other, and whose outstretched wings, meeting over the centre of the ark, overshadowed it completely. It was here that the Shekinah or Divine Presence more immediately rested, and both in the Tabernacle and Temple was indicated by a cloud, from the midst of which responses were delivered in an audible voice whenever the Lord was consulted in behalf of the people. Hence God is sometimes mentioned as he that ‘dwelleth’ or ‘sitteth between the cherubim.’ In its removals the ark was covered with a vail, Num 4:6, and might only be carried on the shoulders of the priests or Levites. The Rabbins think, with some reason, that it was only carried by the priests on extraordinary occasions, being ordinarily borne by the Levites. No other form of conveyance was allowed, nor were any other persons permitted to interfere with it. The fate of Uzzah, 2 Sam. 6:3, admonished the Israelites, in a very solemn manner, of the consequences of even a well meant officiousness in a matter where the divine will had been so clearly expressed to the contrary. After the Israelites had passed the Jordan, the ark generally occupied its proper place in the Tabernacle, and was afterwards placed in the Temple built by Solomon. From the direction given by Josiah to the Levites, 2 Chron. 35:3 to restore the ark to its place, it would seem to have been previously removed, but it is not known whether this was done by the priests, to preserve it from profanation, or by the idolatrous kings Manasseh or Amon, to make room for their idols. It seems that the ark, with the other precious things of the Temple, became the spoil of Nebuchadnezzar, and was taken to Babylon; and it does not appear that it was restored at the end of the captivity, or that any new one was made. What became of the ark after the captivity cannot be ascertained. Some of the Rabbins think that it was concealed, to preserve it from the Chaldeans, and that it could not again be discovered, nor will be till the Messiah comes and reveals it. Others say that it was indeed taken away by the Chaldeans, but was afterwards restored, and occupied its place in the second Temple: but the Talmud and some of the Jewish writers confess, that the want of the ark was one of the points in which the second Temple was inferior to that of Solomon: to which we may add that neither Ezra, Nehemiah, the Maccabees, nor Josephus, mention the ark as extant in the second Temple, and the last authority expressly says that there was nothing in the sanctuary when the Temple was taken by Titus. It certainly does not appear in the Arch erected at Rome in honor of that conqueror, and in which the spoils of the Temple are displayed; although some writers have attempted to identify it with the table of shewbread which is there represented. Egyptian Ark Borne by Priests (ED NOTE: WHAT A PATHETIC COUNTERFEIT - THE PICTURE OF THE PAGAN ARK HAS A COW WHERE THE HEBREW ARK IS WHERE GOD WOULD DWELL!) It is to be remarked that similar arks or chests, containing the mysteries of their religions, were common among nearly all the ancient heathen nations, the hint of which was probably taken from that of the Jews. The Egyptians, for instance, carried in solemn processions a sacred chest, containing their secret things and the mysteries of their religion, of which the following cut, from the hieroglyphic remains of that country, shows a very remarkable conformity to the Hebrew model. The Trojans also had their sacred chest; and the palladium of the Greeks and Romans was something not very unlike. It is remarkable too, that as the Hebrew Tabernacle and Temple had a holy of holies, in which the ark was deposited, so had the heathen, in the in most part of their temples, an adytum or penetrale, which none but the priests might enter. Something very similar may also be traced among barbarous and savage nations. Thus, Tacitus, speaking of the nations of Northern Germany, of whom our Saxon ancestors were a branch, says that they generally worshipped Hertham, or the Mother Earth (Terram matrem); believing her to interpose in the affairs of men, and to visit nations; and that to her, within a grove in a certain island, was consecrated a vehicle covered with a vestment, and which none but the priests were allowed to touch. The same thing has been frequently noticed in connexion with the religious systems of other heathen nations, and among the inhabitants of Mexico and the South Sea Islands, very curious analogies with the Mosaic ark have been discovered, of which the reader will find an account in Parkhurst’s Heb. Lex. Art. רן. (Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Exodus Volume 2) Exodus 25:11 "You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it. NET Exodus 25:11 You are to overlay it with pure gold– both inside and outside you must overlay it, and you are to make a surrounding border of gold over it. NLT Exodus 25:11 Overlay it inside and outside with pure gold, and run a molding of gold all around it. ESV Exodus 25:11 You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it. NIV Exodus 25:11 Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. Ex 25:24 30:3 1Ki 6:20 2Ch 3:4 Exodus 25 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it. -