Exodus 25:12, commentary and pictures

The verse directs that four rings of gold be cast and fastened at the four corners of the ark, two on one side and two on the other, to hold its carrying staves of wood overlaid with gold that were to remain in them. The ark itself was a chest of acacia wood overlaid inside and out with pure gold and crowned with gold, made by divine direction given to Moses for the innermost place of the wilderness tabernacle beyond the veil where atonement and intercession centered. It was made as the sacred depository for the stone tables on which God wrote the Ten Commandments, His covenant and the basis of His covenant with Israel, so that it was called the ark of the covenant and the law within stood for God Himself. Its golden cover was the mercy-seat overshadowed by cherubim, above which rested the Shekinah from whence God spoke, a figure of the true ark and sanctuary in heaven where God's glory appears as a throne and Jesus ministers before the mercy-seat. Thus the ark was Israel's glory and strength and the sign of God's abiding presence day and night, to be honored as sacred and guarded from intrusion, with all skill and diligence in its making used for His glory.

Rings and Ark Construction

The command was to cast four rings of gold and fix them at the four corners of the ark, two rings on one side and two rings on the other side. Those rings were to hold the carrying staves, which were made of wood covered with gold and were to remain in the rings. The ark itself was a chest of acacia wood overlaid within and without with pure gold, inlaid with pure gold, with a crown of gold around the top.

It was to stand beyond the inner veil in the holy of holies, the Most Holy Place of the wilderness tabernacle, where the symbolic service of atonement and intercession centered. The specification was given by Christ, the Lord, to Moses as part of the directions for building the tabernacle and sanctuary, including the pattern of the ark. It was given on the mount of God after Moses went up with his minister Joshua, following the covenant promise, the sprinkling of blood, and the vision of God.

The directions were precise, and the completed ark was to match exactly the pattern shown to Moses.

Covenant Meaning and Presence

The chest ordered in this direction was made as a sacred depository to contain the stone tablets, the two tables on which God Himself inscribed the Ten Commandments. It stood as a chest of acacia wood overlaid within and without with pure gold, made to hold those tables as the central treasure of the sanctuary. The earthly sanctuary and its furnishings in which it stood were figures of the heavenly sanctuary, and the ark itself stood in the Most Holy Place where Jesus ministers before the mercy-seat. Those commandments were God's covenant and the basis of the covenant made between God and Israel, and for that reason the chest was called the ark of God's testament or the ark of the covenant. The law kept within represented God Himself.

Its cover was called the mercy-seat, wrought of one solid piece of gold and surmounted by golden cherubim standing one on each end. One wing of each cherub was stretched forth on high and the other folded over the body in reverence and humility, with their faces turned toward each other and looking reverently downward toward the ark. That posture shows the reverence with which the heavenly host regard the law of God and their interest in the plan of redemption. Above the mercy-seat was the Shekinah, the manifestation of the divine presence, and from between the cherubim God made known His will.

The earthly ark and sanctuary with its furnishings were a pattern and figure of the true ark and sanctuary in heaven. In heaven angels stand beside the ark in reverence toward the law kept within it. The heavenly ark is covered with pure gold, with cherubim above it and God's glory appearing over it as a throne. There Jesus stands beside the ark and ministers before the mercy-seat, presenting the prayers of the saints with incense to the Father. The ark was regarded as Israel's glory and strength, and the token or sign of God's presence rested upon it day and night.

Honor in Sacred Work

The direction to cast the rings was part of the specifications Christ gave to Moses for building the tabernacle, and it teaches that supreme honor is to be given to God. The skill and genius and wisdom brought into that tabernacle work were given by God to be used for His glory. That same thoroughness is set forth as an example of diligence in common work, for Paul repeated Exodus 24-27 chapter after chapter to his fellow workers while laboring quickly and skillfully with his hands at tentmaking. In doing so he preached the gospel both by voice and by intelligent labor, for his own benefit and for theirs.

The ark thus furnished was to be treated as sacred and guarded from intrusion and curious investigation. Its holiness illustrates the protection owed to what God has set apart for His work.