Exodus 25:10-16

THE ARK

"And they shall make an ark of acacia wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four feet thereof, and two rings shall be on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. And thou shalt make staves of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold And thou shalt put the staves into the rings on the sides of the ark, wherein to bear the ark. The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it. And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee."

Why? There are many questions we might ask, but the answers would likely fall into the area of speculation, rather than knowledge. The dimensions of 2 1/2 cubits, by 1 1/2 cubits, by 1 1/2 cubits, allowing 18 inches as a cubit, would equal 45 inches 10:27 inches 10:27 inches.

1. One purpose, no doubt, was to provide an article capable of being carried.

2. The exact dimensions had to be followed if the Mercy-Seat (made in exactly the same width and length) would fit on top of it. The overlaying of pure gold signified the extreme value and desirability of it.

"The testimony which I shall give thee ..." This is a reference to the two stone tables engraved by the finger of God which Moses would receive from God. Later on, other articles were added, a pot of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded.

At this point in the Divine instructions, the principal glory of the Ark had not appeared, that glory being its location in the completed tabernacle. Nevertheless, we may well imagine the excitement felt by Moses in the contemplation of such a wonderful and extravagantly expensive article of furniture. He might have thought, "Nothing could be any holier,, or more important, than such an Ark of the Covenant containing the very two tables inscribed by the finger of God Himself."