FINAL WARNING: The Shining Star
The Ark was a rectangular box four feet long, and two feet high, made
of acacia wood (distinguished as a type of wood that does not decay),
and covered with gold; with two cherubs (a rank of angels) looking
down and facing each other on its lid with outstretched wings, which
was known as the mercy seat. It was constructed at Mount Sinai by
Bezalel, according to the instructions Moses received from God. Inside
was placed the rod of Aaron, a pot of manna (which had been sent by
God to feed the Israelites during their time of wandering in the
wilderness), and the two tablets of the Law given to Moses (known as
the Ten Commandments). Some sources also claim that it contains the
original Books of Moses. It represented the divine presence of God,
and was the point where the literal manifestation of God on this Earth
took place. Just looking at it was known to cause death. The Bible tells
us of the power it possessed. It caused the Jordan River to part
(Joshua 3:8 - 4:11), aided in the destruction of Jericho (Joshua 6:4-21),
and brought about numerous military victories when it was present.
Needless to say, it developed quite a mystique.Inside the Temple, the Ark was placed in a dark, windowless room
known as the Holy of Holies. A vale was placed around the Ark, and
only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest was allowed
to enter. Even then, he was to carry a container of burning incense,
which filled the room with smoke, thus obscuring his view of the Ark.
He would sprinkle the blood of a bullock on the ground in front of the
Ark, and on the mercy seat, as atonement for the sins of the priests;
and then the blood of a goat, as a symbolic atonement for the sins of
the people. A rope would be tied around his waist, so if for some
reason he accidentally touched the Ark and was killed, he could be
pulled out without risk by the other priests.In the Bible, there are 200 references to the Ark of the Covenant up to
the time of Jeremiah, but nothing afterward. It has since disappeared,
and nobody is really sure where it’s at. The common belief is that the
Temple will not be rebuilt unless the Ark is found.The Ark had not been removed from the Temple during or after the
reign of King Josiah, which had begun in 640 BC, and it was in place in
the Holy of Holies in 701 BC, which leaves 61 years in which it could
have disappeared. It is unlikely that Hezekiah (716-687 BC) would have