Ark of the Covenant

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The Ark of the Covenant was a holy relic for the Israelites which contained the tablets upon which the Ten Commandments had been written.

The Ark was built per instructions given by (apparently) God to Moses when the Israelites wandered the desert. It measured 2.5 cubits (around 18 inches) in length, 1.5 cubits in both height and width. It should have been constructed out of acacia wood and gold plated on both the inside and the outside, and the lid was adorned with twin cherub statues.

Contents

[edit] Contents

Doesn't matter whether it is single or a set, it looks great in any living room

The contents of the Ark are said to be the tablets containing the Ten Commandments. However, it has been debated whether both tablets are contained within one Ark, or for that matter, even exist.

The Ark is perhaps most well known for its capabilities as "a radio for speaking to God", as well as the fates for those who misuse it. The Ark served as God's only material connection to the world[1]. According to the Bible, when God wanted to speak to Moses, he would do so out of the twin cherubs with a cloud becoming visible.

The Ark also supposedly killed those who would misuse it through holy fire and other such phenomena. However, given the conditions of the desert, as well as gold's ability as a conductor, some scholars believe that these deaths could be attributed to a severe static shock.

[edit] Current location

The whereabouts of the Ark are currently unknown. It was lost when the First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonian empire. Some believe it was hidden prior to the attack, in a cave near the Dead Sea, or in possession by the United States in some classified location. Christians in Ethiopia claim they have it at the Church of Saint Mary of Zion, where it is guarded by the "Keeper of the Ark".[2]

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. Jesus, as God with a material body, obviously does not count for some really odd reasons.
  2. Jewish Virtual Library: The Lost Ark of the Covenant by David Shyovitz
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