Weekly Torah Lesson
Parasha: Teruma – Elevate / lift up
Torah: Shemot 25:1 – 27:19
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 you shall overlay it with pure gold, within and without shall you overlay it, and shall make on it a crown of gold round about. 12 And you shall 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 you shall make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 And you shall 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 you shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you. (Shemot 25:10-16)
The “Ark of The Covenant” was basically a large wooden box that was overlayed with gold. It was approximately 50 inches long, 30 inches wide and 30 inches high. The main purpose of this box was to act as the base of what is called “The Mercy Seat” which is an elaborate block of carved gold where Avinu spoke from when He wanted to give instructions to Moshe or Aharon’s descendants. The enclosed space under the Mercy Seat acted as a container. Here is what Shaul tells us is in it:
which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; (Heb 9:4 )
The word used to describe the contents of the container is translated “testimonies”. The three items listed above are “proof” that the events that referenced these items actually happened. They are not fables or myths that someone made up.
What happened to The Ark of The Covenant?
It’s almost two thousand years since the Temple and all of it’s contents were destroyed. There are some who believe that the Ark of The Covenant wasn’t in the Temple when Yeshua was on earth but Shaul’s description of it’s contents allows us to believe that it was still in tact when The Romans arrived.
Here is what Jeremiah prophesied about our generation:
“Then it shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and increased in the land in those days,” says the LORD, “that they will say no more, ‘The ark of the covenant of Avinu.’ It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall it be made anymore.” (Jer 3:16 )
Where is “the lost Ark”?
Anyone who has seen “Raiders of The Lost Ark” can tell you that the Ark of The Covenant is hidden in a government warehouse located somewhere in New Jersey. However, here is what the Scriptures tell us:
Then the temple of Avinu was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. (Re 11:19 )
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