The Ark of the Covenant, Remarks on Exodus 25:10 to 25:22

The verses of Exodus 25:10 to 25:12 are the Lord’s words that tell the Israelites to construct The Ark of the Covenant.

The Ark of the Covenant was the consecrated gold-plated chest constructed out of acacia wood that the Israelites built to contain stone tablets of Ten Commandments. Also placed in the ark was a jar of manga, Aaron’s staff and the Mercy Seat where G-d spoke to Moses. Two poles to carry the Ark of the Covenant were placed in it, and the poles were made of acacia wood as well. After the destruction of Babylon the ark’s location was not known.

Ark of the Covenant

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1931.

The purpose of the ark was a sanctuary that could be easily moved and it symbolized G-d’s presence among his people. The people always kept a distance from the ark because it represented G-d’s holiness. Only the Levite priests could come close to the ark. The priests served as go-betweens between the people and the Lord. The distance was about 3500 ft, 2/3 of of a mile, the width of the Jordan’s rivers flood plain.

Acacia wood was used because it was available in the desert of the Sinai. It is harder than oak and the branches are protected by thorns. Manna was the food G-d provided in the wilderness. G-d gave to the Israelites to feed them in the desert. It suddenly appeared and then disappeared to remind the people that manna was a present from G-d. Two cherubim, which are angelic beings, were made of gold, and faced one another at the ends of the Mercy Seat.

Let us look at the verses of Exodus 25:10 to Exodus 25:22.

Exodus 25:10 And they are to construct an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.

Exodus 25:11 Overlay it with pure gold both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it.

Exodus 25:12 Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other.

Exodus 25-13 And make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

Exodus 25:14 Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, in order to carry it.

Exodus 25:15The poles are to remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be removed.

Exodus 25;16 And place inside the ark the Testimony, which I will give you.

Exodus 25:17 And you are to construct a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.

Exodus 25:18 Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,

Exodus 25:19 one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold.

Exodus 25:20 And the cherubim are to have wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the mercy seat.

Exodus 25:21 Set the mercy seat atop the ark and put the Testimony that I will give you into the ark.

Exodus 25:22 And I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony; I will speak with you about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.