What Does the Ark of the Covenant Represent?

The camera closes in on the government agents. One looks around nervously to be sure no one else is listening. The fictional conversation turns to the Ark of the Covenant.

“The Bible speaks of the ark leveling mountains and laying waste to entire regions,” a somber voice discloses. “An army which carries the ark before it is invincible.”

These are the words of a fictional character, the mentor of Indiana Jones, near the beginning of the 1981 blockbuster movie Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Are they true? Did the ark level mountains and make armies invincible? What was it anyway, and what does the Ark of the Covenant represent?

What was the Ark of the Covenant?

The English word ark is a translation of the Hebrew 'ārôn, which can mean “coffin” (Genesis 50:26), or simply a “chest” or “box” (2 Kings 12:9). In most cases in Scripture, however, the word refers to the Ark of the Covenant.

The New King James Version of the Bible uses “ark of the covenant” 43 times, but also refers to the same object as the “ark of the Testimony” 13 times (Exodus 25:16, 21). Both terms connect the ark with God’s law.

Scripture tells us that the ark did function as a chest or box. God commanded Moses to place the stone tablets engraved with the 10 Commandments into the ark (Deuteronomy 10:2-5).

At one time, the ark also possibly contained a pot of manna, as well as Aaron’s rod. The book of Hebrews mentions all three items (Hebrews 9:4).

Some scholars believe the manna and Aaron’s rod were only “before” (or in front of) the ark rather than within it. The wording in Exodus 16:33-34 and Numbers 17:10-11 might seem to support this conclusion. However, the actual wording is “before the Testimony” (both passages) and “before the LORD” (Exodus only).

Scripture does not tell us what happened to the manna and Aaron’s rod, but by the time King Solomon had the ark moved into the temple he had just completed, the ark contained only the 10 Commandments (1 Kings 8:9).

By stating that “nothing was in the ark except the two tablets of stone,” this passage seems to hint that other items might have been expected, but were missing.

When and how was the ark built?

The people of Israel built the Ark of the Covenant according to explicit instructions Moses received directly from God at Mount Sinai (Exodus 25:10-22). They had affirmed their commitment to obey the terms of the covenant (Exodus 24:7), after which God commanded Moses to meet Him at the top of the mountain (verse 12).

Moses returned from the mountain 40 days later (verse 18) with the charge to construct a sanctuary (Exodus 25:8) as well as to make the Ark of the Covenant (verse 10).

God’s instructions regarding the ark (verses 10-22) specify the wood to be used, the dimensions, the features and the purpose of the ark. In addition, God gave Israel’s artisans, particularly Bezalel and Aholiab, a special “wisdom” through His Holy Spirit to complete this important work (Exodus 31:2-6).

The craftsmen finished their work on the tabernacle and the ark by the beginning of the second year after Israel left Egypt (Exodus 39:32-35; 40:17).

What does the Ark of the Covenant represent?

God began to specify the purpose for the ark in the initial instructions He gave Moses. In reference to the Ark of the Covenant, God said, “And there I will meet with you” (Exodus 25:22; 30:6).

As the place where God would meet with Moses, the Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God among His people. That is why it was placed behind the veil separating “the holy place and the Most Holy” in the tabernacle (Exodus 26:33).

The tabernacle itself, and later the temple, signified God’s presence and character. God is holy and can be approached only by a people made holy (Leviticus 19:2).

The “Most Holy” behind the veil was reserved for God, and it is fitting that this was the very place where the ark was kept. To stand “before the ark,” according to the Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, was to stand before God.

The “mercy seat” (Exodus 25:17; Hebrews 9:5) on top of the Ark of the Covenant represented God’s throne of mercy. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, Christians can now “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

The ark in the wilderness

This sense of God’s presence is highlighted by the description of Israel’s travels through the wilderness after leaving Mount Sinai (Numbers 10:33-34). Both the ark and the pillar of cloud signified God’s presence with His people, and both are mentioned in this passage.

The following verses record the substance of the prayers Moses offered as the ark set out on a journey and as it rested.

As the ark left, Moses said:

“Rise up, O LORD! Let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You” (verse 35).

When the ark rested, Moses said:

“Return, O LORD, to the many thousands of Israel” (verse 36).

Clearly, the Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God with Israel. It was not, however, a guarantee of His presence or an idol to worship. It was a reminder of God’s covenant that made a relationship with Him possible.

Crossing the Jordan with the ark

The ancient Israelites wanted to know that God was with them.

This was especially true as they were poised to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land. After spending 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites would finally receive the homeland for which they had yearned.

The previous generation, their parents, had feared the inhabitants of the land of Canaan more than they had trusted God (Numbers 13:28-29, 31-33). They had refused to enter the land and, as a result, had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years (Numbers 14:26-35).

Most of those set to cross the Jordan River hadn’t been born when God divided the water of the Red Sea (Exodus 14). However, God performed a similar miracle at the Jordan. The Ark of the Covenant played an important role.

Israel saw that “the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD” (Joshua 4:7). It was not the ark itself, but God who made this crossing possible. Joshua told the people that “the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan” (verse 23).

The Ark of the Covenant in battle

Just as their parents had witnessed the destruction of the Egyptian army at the Red Sea, this new generation needed assurance to face their enemies. That assurance came with the first battle in the Promised Land, and the ark was pivotal.

Jericho’s walls would have been an intimidating sight.

God directed His people to use the ark in a dramatic way. They were to march around the city with the ark one time each day for six days while priests blew trumpets made from ram’s horns (Joshua 6:3-4). On the seventh day, they were to march around Jericho seven times.

Having the Ark of the Covenant displayed so prominently would have signified God’s presence with His people. They would not even see battle until the walls collapsed as God promised (verse 5).

This victory at Jericho set the stage for the conquest of the land of Canaan that followed. There were setbacks at times because of sin (Joshua 7), but for the most part, Israel enjoyed victory after victory.

The Philistines capture the ark

The Bible does not speak of the ark being used in battle again until late in the period of the judges. In fact, “the ark’s use in battle seems to have been exceptional” (Zondervan, Vol. 1, p. 307).

This fact alone is enough to tell us that the ark was not some superweapon, as depicted in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Rather, it was a symbol of the presence and power of God, and try as they might, human beings could not manipulate that power.

Israel learned this lesson the hard way. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:2), the tribal elders suggested that the presence of the ark would turn the tide of battle: “Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies” (verse 3).

The result was not what Israel expected. The Philistines slaughtered 30,000 foot soldiers (verse 10), far more than the 4,000 lost in the preceding battle (verse 2).

Even more shocking was what happened to the ark, the very symbol of God’s presence. God allowed the Philistine army to capture it (verse 11)!

The Philistines themselves learned that the ark was not some trophy to be displayed. The idol of their god Dagon ended up broken to pieces before the ark (1 Samuel 5:4). Worse, their people suffered plagues (verse 6) until they returned the ark to Israel (1 Samuel 6).

Respect for the symbol

The ark was a material object without any inherent power. Even so, God demanded that it be treated with respect. The Ark of the Covenant represented God, though it was never to be an object of worship.

Among all the items associated with the tabernacle and temple, the ark “was, in many respects, the most important object of all” (The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times, p. 369).

The ark was not to be transported by cart or wagon, but by men holding onto poles designed to fit through rings on the ark (Exodus 25:12-15).

God stipulated that only men from the family of Kohath, one of three branches of the tribe of Levi (Numbers 3:17), were to carry the ark and only after the ark had been covered by priests (Numbers 4:5-6, 15).

Good intentions

Years later, when King David sent men to transport the ark to Jerusalem, they seemed to be unaware of God’s instructions in the books of Moses. These men transported the ark on an ox cart (2 Samuel 6:3).

The fact that the cart was new indicates that these men intended to be respectful. Unfortunately, they did not search Scripture to determine God’s will in the matter. As a result, a man died.

Uzzah, seeing that the oxen had stumbled, at one point reached out his hand to steady the ark (verse 6). This action, though presumably well-intentioned, violated God’s distinct instructions not to touch the ark. God struck Uzzah down (verse 7).

Note that the Bible tells us it was God, not the ark, who struck Uzzah down. The Ark of the Covenant, though it represented the all-powerful and holy God, had no power of its own. Find more answers about this incident in the article “Uzzah and the Ark: Was God Unfair?”

What happened to the ark?

The ark was still in Jerusalem in the time of King Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:3). He reigned just a few decades before the Babylonian invasion and the destruction of Jerusalem.

The biblical record tells us that Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, took “all the articles from the house of God, great and small, the treasures of the house of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 36:18).

This statement does not specify that the Ark of the Covenant was among those treasures. However, most scholars believe it was after this that the ark was lost.

The first-century historian Josephus tells us that during the Roman period, the ark was not within the second temple:

“But the inmost part of the temple of all was of twenty cubits. This was also separated from the outer part by a veil. In this there was nothing at all. It was inaccessible and inviolable, and not to be seen by any; and was called the Holy of Holies” (The Wars of the Jews, Book 5, sec. 215, emphasis added).

The Ark of the Covenant for Christians

The Ark of the Covenant has captured the imagination of many people through the centuries. That’s undoubtedly why the History Channel’s History’s Greatest Mysteries proclaimed the ark to be “one of the holiest and most powerful relics from the Bible.”

The ark was indeed holy, in the sense that it was set apart by God to represent His presence, but it had no power of its own. It was only a symbol of an important truth:

God intends to dwell among humans.

Ultimately, there will no longer be a need for an ark to represent God. People will no longer be fascinated by it, because God Himself will dwell among His children. The prophet Jeremiah wrote of this wonderful time to come:

“‘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 the LORD.” It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall it be made anymore’” (Jeremiah 3:16).