A rectangular wooden box, overlaid with gold, measuring 3.75 x 2.25 x 2.25 feet (1.1 x 0.7 x 0.7 metres). It contains the Law tablets and symbolises God's presence with his people.
Descriptions of the ark
Exodus 25:22; Leviticus 16:2; Numbers 10:33; Joshua 3:6, Joshua 4:5, Joshua 4:9; 1 Samuel 4:11
The construction of the ark
Exodus 25:10–16; Deuteronomy 10:1; Exodus 31:1–7, Exodus 35:10–12, Exodus 37:1–5; Deuteronomy 10:3; Exodus 39:33, Exodus 39:35, Exodus 40:1–5, Exodus 40:20–21
The construction of the atonement cover
Exodus 25:17–21, Exodus 26:34, Exodus 30:6, Exodus 37:6–9, Exodus 39:35, Exodus 40:20
The care of the ark
Numbers 3:30–32, Numbers 4:5; Deuteronomy 10:8, Deuteronomy 31:9
Major events in the history of the ark
The ark is taken to the promised land
Joshua 3:3, Joshua 3:6, Joshua 3:15–16, Joshua 6:4–16, Joshua 8:33
The ark is the focus of the covenant renewal at Mount Ebal
The ark is captured by the Philistines
1 Samuel 4:1–11, 1 Samuel 4:17–22, 1 Samuel 5:1–12
The ark is returned to Israel
1 Samuel 6:1–3, 1 Samuel 6:10–15, 1 Samuel 6:19, 1 Samuel 7:1–2
The ark is brought to Jerusalem
2 Samuel 6:1–12 parallel 1 Chronicles 13:3–14; 2 Samuel 6:17 parallel 1 Chronicles 16:1; 1 Chronicles 15:1, 1 Chronicles 16:37; 2 Samuel 7:2–7 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:1–6; 2 Samuel 15:24–25, 2 Samuel 15:29 David is fleeing from Absalom.
The ark is placed in the temple
1 Kings 8:1–6 parallel 2 Chronicles 5:2–7
The ark in later Israelite history
2 Chronicles 35:3 The ark must have been moved from the temple.
The function of the ark
To contain the tablets of the Law
Deuteronomy 10:5 See also Exodus 25:16, Exodus 25:21, Exodus 40:20; Deuteronomy 31:24–26; 1 Kings 8:9; Hebrews 9:4 The jar of manna and Aaron's rod were originally placed beside the ark (Exodus 16:34; Numbers 17:10), and were probably put inside it at a later date.
and I went back down the mountain and placed the tablets in the ark I had made, as the LORD had commanded me; and there they have remained.
As the place where God reveals his commands to Moses
Numbers 7:89 See also Exodus 25:22, Exodus 30:6, Exodus 30:36
When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony. Thus the LORD spoke to him.
As a symbol of the presence of God
Leviticus 16:2 See also Numbers 10:33–36; Joshua 7:6; Judges 20:27; 2 Samuel 7:2 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:1; 2 Chronicles 6:41 parallel Psalm 132:8
And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.
Used on the Day of Atonement
He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony, so that he will not die. And he is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat. Aaron shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and bring its blood behind the veil, and with its blood he must do as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it.
The ark's holiness and effect
Irreverent treament of the ark brings judgment
2 Samuel 6:6–7 parallel 1 Chronicles 13:9–10 See also Joshua 3:4; 1 Samuel 5:1–4, 1 Samuel 5:8–12, 1 Samuel 6:19
When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled. And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.
The presence of the ark brings blessing
2 Samuel 6:11 parallel 1 Chronicles 13:14
Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and all his household.
A restored Israel in which the ark has no place
“In those days, when you multiply and increase in the land,” declares the LORD, “they will no longer discuss the ark of the covenant of the LORD. It will never come to mind, and no one will remember it or miss it, nor will another one be made.
The ark in John's revelation
Revelation 11:19 The ark here symbolises the presence of God and is open and visible, not hidden in the Most Holy Place.
Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.