Fashioned by master craftsman Bezalel from acacia wood overlaid with
gold, it measured 111cm x 67cm x 67cm (44” x 26” x 26”) and had a solid gold
cover supporting two angels with bowed heads and outstretched wings.
Truly, the Ark of the Covenant was a treasure beyond price. Yet, to the
nation of Israel, its material value was as nothing compared with what it
represented – the presence of its original designer, Almighty God himself!
In fact, the Ark, which contained the Ten Commandments and, initially, a
golden jar of manna and the flowering rod of Aaron, was considered so sacred
that no one was allowed to touch it – or even to look upon it - on pain of
death.
When the people of Israel came to rest during their 40 year wanderings
through the desert, it lay in the Holy of Holies, an inner chamber screened off
from the main tabernacle (or tent), accessible only by the High Priest for just
one day every year - the Day of Atonement. And when the people broke camp, the Ark had
to be carried by Levites on poles slotted through two rings of gold on either
side and covered with blue cloth and sealskin to shield it from the gaze of the
people. In this way the Ark was carried into
battle ahead of the nation of Israel, putting courage into the people and striking
fear into their enemies, particularly after the spectacular fall of Jericho.
Not a
magic charm
However, contrary to the Indiana Jones movie, the Ark of
the Covenant had no miraculous properties in itself. Success or victory
depended entirely on the people’s loyalty to God – a lesson which the
Israelites learned to their cost. Acting against divine instructions, Hophni
and Phinehas, renegade sons of the High Priest Eli, took the Ark from the
tabernacle in Shiloh, wrongly viewing it as a magic charm that would protect them
against their enemies and help them conquer the Promised Land.
They soon realised their mistake. After a humiliating
defeat in which 30,000 Israelites lost their lives, the sacred chest was
captured by the Philistines who brought it back to Ashdod. Here, it was placed
in the temple next to the half-man half-fish image of the Philistine god Dagon.
But not for long. Overnight, the idol fell flat on its face before the ark. It
was then put back on its plinth, only to be brought crashing down again the following night, this
time losing its head along with the palms of its hands.
Later, as the Ark was paraded on a seven month tour of
Philistia, the people were plagued with haemorrhoids, the land was overrun by
jerboas, and the city of Ekron was hit by death-dealing confusion. These woes
were enough to prompt the Ark’s speedy return to Israel, accompanied by a
suitable offering!
Eventually, the Ark was brought to Jerusalem, although it
did not have a permanent home until Solomon’s temple was built. In 642 BCE,
King Josiah arranged for the Ark to be brought back to the temple, although
there is no indication as to why it was removed in the first place. It may have
been for safekeeping during temple renovations; or it could have been to prevent
its misuse by one of Josiah’s predecessors, including his own father Manasseh,
who fell away to false worship.
Whatever the reason, the Ark is not mentioned again in Hebrew
scripture and there is no evidence that it was taken to Babylon after Jerusalem’s
destruction in 607 BCE. It simply disappeared.
Does
it still exist?
Various archaeologists have spent years searching for the
Ark of the Covenant without success. Some believe it’s in Axum, Ethiopia at the
Church of Saint Mary of Zion, having been ‘acquired’ by Menelik, the Queen of
Sheba’s son during a visit to Jerusalem. However, this does not square up with the
Bible account (2Chronicles 35 v 3) which, as previously mentioned, places the Ark
in Jerusalem during Josiah’s reign – nearly 400 years later. This might explain
why the “Keeper of the Ark”, the monk who claims to have possession, refuses to
let anyone see it.
Archaeologist Leen Ritmeyer claims to have discovered
where the original Temple’s Holy of Holies was located, pointing to a bedrock
section in the centre which matches the precise dimensions of the Ark. Whether
the Ark is indeed buried there is likely to remain a mystery, as neither the
Muslim or Israeli authorities will agree to an excavation.
To sum up, it seems unlikely that the Ark of the Covenant
will ever be found, partly because it has served its purpose, and also because
such a precious artefact would doubtless attract unwarranted veneration.
