Exodus Segment 7

The Ark of the Covenant 

The giving of the Law so quick after leaving Egypt was to help Moses rule, govern the people. The people were given a standard in which to conduct their lives. The land they were presently in was different than the land of Goshen. 

[Nehemiah 9:7-21] 

7 Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;  

8 And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous:  

9 And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea;  

10 And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day.  

11 And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.  

12 Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.  

13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:   

14 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:  

15 And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.   

16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,  

17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.   

18 Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;  

19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.  

20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.  

21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.  

Quite a commentary! God did so much for His people and they responded with rebellion every opportunity they got.  

[Start here] Because Israel could not remain faithful to their leader, the prophet Moses, and to the revelation that God showed him, God gave his children an added, tangible sign of His presence by having Moses build a tabernacle. 

Exodus 25:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.    

3 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,   

4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,   

5 And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood,  

Shittim wood is from the acacia tree, a large thorny tree that grows in Egypt and Arabia in the desert wadis, whose wood is exceedingly hard, and may have been the only tree in the area large enough for the construction of the ark. 

6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,  

7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.  

Why? What is the purpose for this offering.  

8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.  

First God’s abode was to be in the sanctuary of the Ark and later in the Temple Solomon will build. These abodes however, were only temporary dwelling places, or meeting places for God and His children. 

Throughout the centuries God awaited the Age of Grace, which began on the day of Pentecost recorded in the book of Acts. It was from this great day on that God could create spirit within  people who were His followers.  

Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit… 

This shows that even heaven is not great enough for God. He also inhabits eternity. 

I Kings 8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?  

Thus the temple and the tabernacle during the Age of Law were a place to gain knowledge and love of God, as well as a refuge from troubles. 

Acts 7:47 But Solomon built him an house.  

48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,  

49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?  

50 Hath not my hand made all these things?  

Throughout the centuries, God always revealed as much of Himself as people were capable of perceiving. God had Moses build a tabernacle. Later David and Solomon, his son, build the temple. This was a witness of God’s doing His best for His people. 

God was always seeking a dwelling place, a place where He would be reverenced, respected, obeyed. It was to be a place where He would have man’s undivided, absolute worship. But the tabernacle nor the temple was big enough for God’s extensiveness.  

These structures were temporary measures until God could bring about in due time a permanent, perfect dwelling place. Today it’s God in Christ in us. We with his gift of holy spirit in us, are the habitation of God. He doesn’t reside in temples built by hands any more. 

Ephesians 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation [a housing place, a location] of God through the Spirit.

This habitation, in His people, is something that the true God wanted from before the foundation of the world. But because of God’s justice, He wasn’t able to bring it to pass until His Son Jesus Christ had finished his work.  

Then it was legally possible for God to have a certain dwelling place within a person when that person would confess with his mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead. 

What God had desired from before the overthrow of the world He was able to see manifested on Pentecost and thereafter, when God in Christ is created in each believer. That becomes God’s permanent dwelling place! 

God was going to show them in Exodus the exact pattern He wanted for His first meeting place, and He was going to put His spirit upon the main men who were going to do the work..  

Exodus 25:9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.  

10 And they shall make an ark of shittim 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.  

11 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. {46. Gold ark} 

12 And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.  

13 And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.  

14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.  

15 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.  

16 And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.  

17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.  

18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.  

19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 

20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.  

21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.  

22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.  

23 Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood… 

24 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold… 

29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them.   

30 And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.  

31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold…  

Chapters 26, 27 are the instructions for the construction of the tabernacle, the vail, the altar, the court.  

Chapters 28, 29 deal with the priest’s office, who was to be priest, his clothing, how to perform sacrifices correctly, the transition to the next high priest. {47. Priest picture} 

Chapter 30 instruction for the construction of an altar, the lavar and its base, and how the priest line was to utilize it. 

Chapter 31 Who was to do the work on the ark and the tabernacle, and the truth that God put the spirit upon them. The Sabbath is a day of rest. {48. HO #6 Tabernacle.}{49. Tabernacle in use.} 

Chapter 32 has the golden calf episode. Artisans while in bondage in Egypt probably made similar Apis bull statues so they knew how to make one. {50. Apis petroglyph-6 feet across} 

Exodus 32:19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.

20  And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. {51. Golden calf altar} 

26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.  

This is why the tribe of Levi became the priests.  

Numbers 3:12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;  

13 Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD. 

The God negotiates compensation for the Levis instead of the first born. 

Exodus 33:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it:  

2 And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:  

3 Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.  

God said, I quit. I’ll get you there with an angel. I’ll fulfill what I said I would do, but as for Me I’m going fishing. You’re on your own once the angel drives out the inhabitants. 

7 And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.   

8 And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle. 

9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.  

Isn’t the way we can communicate with God much easier, with spirit in every child of God, and with the understanding that God is everywhere, not in just one location. 

10 And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.  

11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp... 

Moses then pleads for the Lord’s return unto the people of Israel. 

12 And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.  

13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.  

14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.  

What changed this situation around? The prayer and believing of Moses. Moses’ prayer and believing was what changed the Lord’s mind against doing what He had every right and every intention of doing. 

Chapter 35 is the commencement of the work on the ark. 

Exodus 35:21 And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD'S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.  

22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.

29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.  

30 And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;  

31 And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;  

32 And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,  

33 And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.  

34 And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

35 Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.

Exodus 36:1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.  

2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:  

3 And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.  

The next chapters deal with actual construction of the sanctuary, with Moses overseeing that it gets built in strict adherence to the blue prints God had given. 

Exodus 40:33... So Moses finished the work.  

34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.  

35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.  

36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:  

37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.  

38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.  

Numbers 7:89 And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.  

The Levites were given specific directions in handling and moving the ark of the covenant. 

Numbers 1:49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:  

50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.  

51 And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.  

52 And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.  

53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.  

Numbers 8:24 This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:   

25 And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:   

26 But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.  

{52. Handout on where each tribe was to camp.} 

What happened to the Ark of the Covenant? 

During the Judges period it rested at Shiloh, just north of the Jebusite city of Jerusalem. After David took Jerusalem, it was put into the Holy of Holiest in Solomon’s Temple. The last mention of it in the Bible is in II Chronicles 35 with King Josiah, about 35 years before the time of the Babylonian Captivity, during the time of the prophet Jeremiah. 

The Temple was totally destroyed at that time in 586 BC, and no record of it being taken either into or out of Babylon is mentioned. Jeremiah 28:3 says that whatever was taken into captivity would come out again. Thus it disappeared from Bible history after Josiah mentions it and before the Babylonian exile.  

It was most likely hidden by Jeremiah just prior to the destruction of the Temple when Jerusalem was surrounded by the Babylonian siege wall. It was hidden somewhere within the confines of the city wall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian siege wall, because not only the Temple was totally destroyed but the entire city of Jerusalem was also. 

The writer of the Apocrypha book of II Maccabees utilizing Nehemiah’s writings, says that Jeremiah was told by God to hide the Ark in the mountain that Moses had seen in the Promised Land before he died.  From Mt. Nebo Moses would have been able to see Jerusalem because of its altitude. 

In 1982 Ron Wyatt crawled through a small entrance into a small cave room and discovered the ark and the table of show bread amongst the articles in a cave. Only 3 or 4 of the host government knows about its location because of the possible danger of a religious war. 

There is fear that Jewish radicals will want to destroy the Dome of the Rock, the third highest Arab holy place on the temple mount and begin construction of the third temple. So its discovery has stayed mostly hidden! 

Ron told Jack Northart and me that 4 of the 5 books of the Pentateuch were still in the ark with the exception of Genesis.  Ron wants to get the section on the 10 commandments out so God’s universal laws could live once again. [Being the legalistic man that he is.]