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Plan of the Ark. 10 You shall make an ark of acacia wood,(A) two and a half cubits[a] long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. 11 Plate it inside and outside with pure gold, and put a molding of gold around the top of it. 12 Cast four gold rings and put them on the four supports of the ark, two rings on one side and two on the opposite side. 13 Then make poles of acacia wood and plate them with gold. 14 These poles you are to put through the rings on the sides of the ark, for carrying it; 15 they must remain in the rings of the ark and never be withdrawn. 16 In the ark you are to put the covenant which I will give you.

17 You shall then make a cover[b] of pure gold, two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide. 18 Make two cherubim[c] of beaten gold for the two ends of the cover; 19 make one cherub at one end, and the other at the other end, of one piece with the cover, at each end. 20 The cherubim shall have their wings spread out above, sheltering the cover with them; they shall face each other, with their faces looking toward the cover. 21 This cover you shall then place on top of the ark. In the ark itself you are to put the covenant which I will give you. 22 There I will meet you and there, from above the cover, between the two cherubim on the ark of the covenant, I will tell you all that I command you regarding the Israelites.

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Footnotes

  1. 25:10 Cubits: the distance between the elbow and tip of the middle finger of an average-size person, about eighteen inches. The dimensions of the ark of the covenant were approximately 3 3/4 feet long, 2 1/4 feet wide, and 2 1/4 feet high.
  2. 25:17 Cover: the Hebrew term, kapporet, has been connected with kippur, as in the feast of Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement (Lv 16; 23:26–32): hence, influenced by the Greek and Latin versions, and Luther’s German, English translations have rendered it “propitiatory,” “mercy seat,” and the like.
  3. 25:18–20 Cherubim: probably in the form of human-headed winged lions. The cherubim over the ark formed the throne for the invisible Lord. Cf. Ps 80:2. For a more detailed description of the somewhat different cherubim in the Temple of Solomon, see 1 Kgs 6:23–28; 2 Chr 3:10–13.

The Ark(A)

10 “Have them make an ark[a](B) of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.[b] 11 Overlay(C) it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. 12 Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings(D) on one side and two rings on the other. 13 Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.(E) 14 Insert the poles(F) into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. 15 The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed.(G) 16 Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law,(H) which I will give you.

17 “Make an atonement cover(I) of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 18 And make two cherubim(J) out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 19 Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. 20 The cherubim(K) are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing(L) the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. 21 Place the cover on top of the ark(M) and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law(N) that I will give you. 22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim(O) that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet(P) with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 25:10 That is, a chest
  2. Exodus 25:10 That is, about 3 3/4 feet long and 2 1/4 feet wide and high or about 1.1 meters long and 68 centimeters wide and high; similarly in verse 17

50 You are to give the Levites charge of the tabernacle of the covenant with all its equipment and all that belongs to it. It is they who shall carry the tabernacle with all its equipment and who shall be its ministers;(A) and they shall camp all around the tabernacle.

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50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle(A) of the covenant law(B)—over all its furnishings(C) and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it.

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He gave none to the Kohathites, because they were responsible for maintenance of the sacred objects that had to be carried on their shoulders.(A)

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But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites,(A) because they were to carry on their shoulders(B) the holy things, for which they were responsible.

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He said to the Levites who were to instruct all Israel, and who were consecrated to the Lord: “Put the holy ark in the house built by Solomon, son of David, king of Israel. It shall no longer be a burden on your shoulders. Serve now the Lord, your God, and his people Israel.(A)

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He said to the Levites, who instructed(A) all Israel and who had been consecrated to the Lord: “Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built. It is not to be carried about on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel.

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