Ark of the Covenant

The **Ark of the Covenant** (ארון הברית in Hebrew: _aron hab'rit_) is described in the Bible as a holy container where the Ten Commandments and other holy Israelite objects are held.  According to the Bible, Yahweh commanded the Ark be built when Moses had a prophetic vision at Sinai (Exodus 25:9-10). Some people believe the Ark contained Aaron's Rod, a jar of Manna, and the first Torah Scroll written by Moses, based on their reading of Book of Exodus, Book of Numbers, and the Letter to the Hebrews. The first of the Books of Kings says that during the time of King Solomon, the Ark held only the Ten Commandments.

## Terminology

The Hebrew word _aron_ is used in the Bible to designate any type of ark or chest, for any purpose (Genesis 50:26; 2 Kings 12:9, 10). The Ark of the Covenant is distinguished from all others by such titles as "Ark of God" (1 Samuel 3:3), "Ark of the Covenant" (Josh. 3:6; Hebrews 9:4), "Ark of the Testimony" (Ex. 25:22).
The Ark (aron kodesh in Hebrew meaning holy cupboard) is a raised cupboard found in Jewish Synagogues which contains the holy Torah scrolls. These are all written by hand and can take years to make. It is always on the wall of the Synagogue which faces towards Jerusalem.
When the Ark is opened and the Torah removed for reading everyone stands in respect of God. During some prayers and services the Ark doors an inner curtain (parochet) are kept open.

## Description

The Bible describes the Ark as made of acacia or shittah-tree wood. It was a cubit and a half broad and high, and two and a half cubits long (about 130 cm × 78 cm × 78 cm or 4.29 × 2.57 × 2.57 feet, for Egyptian royal cubit was most likely used). The Ark was covered all over with the purest gold.

## Related pages

**Middle Eastern**: Israel

**People**: Joshua, Samuel, Solomon

## Further reading

- Carew, Mairead, _Tara and the Ark of the Covenant: A Search for the Ark of the Covenant by British Israelites on the Hill of Tara, 1899-1902]_. Royal Irish Academy, 2003.
- Fisher, Milton C., _The Ark of the Covenant: Alive and Well in Ethiopia?_. Bible and Spade 8/3, pp. 65–72, 1995.
- Grierson, Roderick & Munro-Hay, Stuart, _The Ark of the Covenant_. Orion Books Ltd, 2000.
- Hancock, Graham, _The Sign and the Seal: The Quest for the Lost Ark of the Covenant_. Touchstone Books, 1993.
- Hertz, J.H., _The Pentateuch and Haftoras. Deuteronomy_. Oxford University Press, 1936.
- Leeman, Bernard, _Queen of Sheba and Biblical Scholarship_. Queensland Academic Press, 2005.
- Ritmeyer, L., _The Ark of the Covenant: Where it Stood in Solomon's Temple_. Biblical Archaeology Review 22/1: 46-55, 70-73, 1996.

## Other websites

- Classic Texts
- "_Shemot - Chapter 25_". Tanach - Torah, Judaica Press.

- Descriptions
- "_Ark of the Covenant_". The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume I.
- Pendleton, Philip Y., "_A Brief Sketch of the Jewish Tabernacle_". 1901. (International Sunday-school Lessons for 1902. Standard Eclectic Commentary comprising original and selected notes, explanatory, illustrative, practical. Embellished with maps, diagrams, chronological charts, tables, etc.)
- Barrow, Martyn, "_The Ark of the Covenant  (Exodus 25:10-22)_". 1995.
- Kaulins, Andis, "_Ark of the Covenant _".
- Shyovitz, David, "_The Lost Ark of the Covenant_". Jewish Virtual Library.
- Chester Comstock "The Ark placed in historical and geographical context" Art History
- Replicas
- "Ark of the Covenant". arkcovenant.com

- Location
- JAH, "_The Ark of The Covenant in Ireland_".
- Israel National News "_Kabbalist Blesses Jones: Now's the Time to Find Holy Lost Ark_". Iyar 5765, May, 2005.
- Peters, Aland, "_Templars excavaton of Solomon's Temple _".
- Searcy, Jim, "_The Ark of the Covenant: Present Location and Importance_". Cyprus.
- Wyatt, Ron "_The Ark of the Covenant : Ron Wyatt's description of his excavations for 3.5 years, and his claim to have seen it_".
- Wyatt, Ron "_The Ark of the Covenant: Found by Ron Wyatt north of Jerusalem in a cave,_".

- General
- "_The Ark of the Covenant _". Old Testament - Exodus, The Brick Testament.
- "_http://www.ark.multimedia.com.au/ _". Book and Interactive CD-ROM detailing find of the Ark.

- Link collections
- Shapiro, Gerald N., "_A small selection of the information collected on the subject _". September 19, 2004.

- Original article text
- Initial text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897 listing of the Ark
- Portions of this article have been taken from the Jewish Encyclopedia  of 1906 listing Ark of the Covenant