When the Hebrews
left the land of Egypt, it was then that Moses received instructions from God
on the building of the Ark. The instructions laid down was that it should be
made of acacia wood of two and a half cubit long, a cubit and a half wide and s
cubit and a half high. It had to be
overlaid both inside as well as outside with pure gold with a gold moulding
around it. Cast of four gold rings for
it was fasten to its four feet, two on either side of it. Poles made of acacia
wood overlaid with gold were inserted into the rings to enable them to carry
the chest. The atonement cover was made of gold, two and a half cubit long and
a cubit and a half wide with two cherubim out of hammered gold at the end of
the cover. These were made of one piece and placed on each side facing the
cover with their wings spread upwards overshadowing the cover. Instructions
were given not to remove the poles but to leave them in the rings of the ark.
The Ark according to the Scriptures was supposed to be carried only by Levities
which were a group of Hebrews who were set aside for the purpose of temple
service. The history mystery of The
Ark of the Covenant also called the Ark of God is very intriguing and
mysterious which started in the Bible in Exodus Chapter 25:10.
The Bible states
that it was in the Ark of the Covenant from where God spoke to Moses and his
people, the Israelites. There is a lot of speculation and history mystery about the acacia wood though some consider it to be
cedar wood. It is said that while Moses
and his people camped during their flight from Egypt, the Ark of the Covenant
was stored in a section they had constructed in the travelling tabernacle known
as the `Holy of Holies’, It was here that God would talk with Moses and the
Priest and receive instructions from God. It is believed that inside the chest
lie the remains of the original tablet of the Ten Commands and some of the
Israelites sacred relics. When the Israelites settled in the Promised Land, a
permanent temple to God was prepared by Kind David. While the Ark had to be
carried by the Priest, as per God’s instructions, manhandling of the Ark was
considered to be dangerous though it was also responsible for many miracles for
the Israelites in times of need. At the time of battle, whenever the ark was
carried, at God/s command, the Israelites experienced victory. The amazing history mystery of the Ark of the Covenant is beyond the
understanding of human minds since it originated under God instruction to His
prophet Moses.
