Exodus 25:10-22

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT, Exodus 25:10-22.

he description of the tabernacle begins with the most sacred object, which, in addition to the above title, bore the several names of the Ark of the Testimony, (Exodus 25:22,) or simply the Testimony, (Exodus 27:21,) the Ark of Jehovah, (Joshua 3:13,) the Ark of God, (1 Samuel 3:3,) the Ark of the strength of Jehovah, (Psalms 132:8,) and the Holy Ark . 2 Chronicles 35:3. This occupied the most holy place in the sanctuary, and symbolized the deepest mysteries of redemption . The monuments of Egypt have been found to bear images which strikingly resemble the ark here described . This no more conflicts with the statement that the tabernacle of the Hebrews was modelled after a heavenly pattern than does the fact that numerous other revelations embodied in well known forms of human thought conflict with their heavenly origin. Other nations and other religions have their altars, and sanctuaries, and ceremonials; but this does not hinder Israel from appropriating like objects to symbolize their holiest mysteries. In like manner, the new revelations both of Mosaism and of Christianity did not invent a new language for their use, but appropriated and adapted old ones. Moses’s acquaintance with the learning and wisdom of the Egyptians made him the more competent, under God, to fashion such objects as served the purpose he had in hand. Not so much the mere outward form as their arrangement and religious lessons give evidence of a heavenly origin.