And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.
The staves were to be kept in the rings by the sides of the ark so it could be carried from place to place as Israel journeyed, for the wilderness tabernacle was made to be moved. The ark itself was a gold-covered chest made as the depository for the tables of stone on which God wrote the Ten Commandments, the basis of His covenant with Israel. Its solid gold cover, the mercy-seat, was overshadowed by cherubim, with the Shekinah, the manifestation of the divine presence, dwelling in glory between them. Thus the ark was the token of God's presence among His people, their glory and strength, with the law within representing God Himself. That earthly ark was a pattern of the true ark in the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, where the service of atonement and intercession centers.
Construction and Carrying
The instruction belongs to the pattern for building the sanctuary given to Moses on the mount, the specifications for the movable wilderness tabernacle. It is one of the specifications given for building the tabernacle, set within the larger directions of Exodus 24-27. The tabernacle was so constructed that it could be removed, because Israel was journeying through the wilderness.
The ark so specified was a chest of acacia wood, also described as precious wood, overlaid within and without with gold. It had a crown or border of gold work about the top. It was a gold-covered chest made to contain the stone tables.
Wooden staves overlaid with gold were to be put through rings by the sides of the ark so that the ark might be borne with them. The staves were to be kept in the rings rather than removed. By these rings and carrying poles the ark was made to be borne from place to place as Israel journeyed.
The ark stood in the most holy place, beyond the inner veil, in the holy of holies. Beyond that veil lay the holy place where the candlestick stood on the south with its seven lamps giving light to the sanctuary by day and by night, the table of showbread stood on the north, and the golden altar of incense stood before the veil from which fragrance ascended daily with the prayers of Israel before God. It was to be treated as sacred and guarded from intrusion.
Meaning and Sanctuary Service
The ark was made as a depository for the tables of stone on which God Himself inscribed the Ten Commandments, and because those commandments were the basis of the covenant made between God and Israel it is called the ark of God's testament or the ark of the covenant. Its cover, called the mercy-seat, was wrought of one solid piece of gold and surmounted by golden cherubim, one standing on each end with faces turned toward each other and looking reverently downward toward the ark. One wing of each angel was stretched forth on high while the other was folded over the body in token of reverence and humility. Above the mercy-seat was the Shekinah, the manifestation of the divine presence in the cloud of glory between the cherubim, and from between the cherubim God made known His will.
The ark symbolized God's presence among His people, the law within it represented God Himself, it was regarded as Israel's glory and strength, and the token of God's presence rested upon it day and night. The earthly ark was a pattern of the true ark that stands in the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, beneath the mercy-seat with cherubim above it, where the symbolic service of atonement and intercession centers and to which the great day of atonement is connected. That heavenly ark is of the finest gold with a border of most beautiful fine gold work representing crowns around the top, contains the tables of stone with the Ten Commandments, and stands before exceeding bright glory like the throne where God dwells. The cherubim represent the reverence with which the heavenly host regard the law of God as the foundation of His government and their interest in the plan of redemption, with lovely cherubim on each end whose wings are spread out over the ark and raised on high touching each other above, their faces turned toward each other and looking downward to the ark.
By the heavenly ark Jesus stands and presents the prayers of the saints coming up in faith to Him, offering them with incense to the Father as sweet fragrance like smoke of most beautiful colors from a golden censer between the cherubim. Glory comes from God to Jesus and from Jesus is shed upon praying saints, while light and glory pour upon Jesus in rich abundance and overshadow the mercy-seat until the train of glory fills the temple. The passage is one of the specifications for building the tabernacle that was repeated to fellow workers while working quickly and skillfully with the hands making tents, to educate them as in touch with the great Teacher. It was so used to give an example of diligence and thoroughness, to educate believers in unity, and to teach that supreme honor is to be given to God and that the skill, genius, and wisdom brought into the work of building the tabernacle were given by God to be used for His glory.
The staves were to be kept in the rings by the sides of the ark so it could be carried from place to place as Israel journeyed, for the wilderness tabernacle was made to be moved. The ark itself was a gold-covered chest made as the depository for the tables of stone on which God wrote the Ten Commandments, the basis of His covenant with Israel. Its solid gold cover, the mercy-seat, was overshadowed by cherubim, with the Shekinah, the manifestation of the divine presence, dwelling in glory between them. Thus the ark was the token of God's presence among His people, their glory and strength, with the law within representing God Himself. That earthly ark was a pattern of the true ark in the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, where the service of atonement and intercession centers.
Construction and Carrying
The instruction belongs to the pattern for building the sanctuary given to Moses on the mount, the specifications for the movable wilderness tabernacle. It is one of the specifications given for building the tabernacle, set within the larger directions of Exodus 24-27. The tabernacle was so constructed that it could be removed, because Israel was journeying through the wilderness.
The ark so specified was a chest of acacia wood, also described as precious wood, overlaid within and without with gold. It had a crown or border of gold work about the top. It was a gold-covered chest made to contain the stone tables.
Wooden staves overlaid with gold were to be put through rings by the sides of the ark so that the ark might be borne with them. The staves were to be kept in the rings rather than removed. By these rings and carrying poles the ark was made to be borne from place to place as Israel journeyed.
The ark stood in the most holy place, beyond the inner veil, in the holy of holies. Beyond that veil lay the holy place where the candlestick stood on the south with its seven lamps giving light to the sanctuary by day and by night, the table of showbread stood on the north, and the golden altar of incense stood before the veil from which fragrance ascended daily with the prayers of Israel before God. It was to be treated as sacred and guarded from intrusion.
Meaning and Sanctuary Service
The ark was made as a depository for the tables of stone on which God Himself inscribed the Ten Commandments, and because those commandments were the basis of the covenant made between God and Israel it is called the ark of God's testament or the ark of the covenant. Its cover, called the mercy-seat, was wrought of one solid piece of gold and surmounted by golden cherubim, one standing on each end with faces turned toward each other and looking reverently downward toward the ark. One wing of each angel was stretched forth on high while the other was folded over the body in token of reverence and humility. Above the mercy-seat was the Shekinah, the manifestation of the divine presence in the cloud of glory between the cherubim, and from between the cherubim God made known His will.
The ark symbolized God's presence among His people, the law within it represented God Himself, it was regarded as Israel's glory and strength, and the token of God's presence rested upon it day and night. The earthly ark was a pattern of the true ark that stands in the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, beneath the mercy-seat with cherubim above it, where the symbolic service of atonement and intercession centers and to which the great day of atonement is connected. That heavenly ark is of the finest gold with a border of most beautiful fine gold work representing crowns around the top, contains the tables of stone with the Ten Commandments, and stands before exceeding bright glory like the throne where God dwells. The cherubim represent the reverence with which the heavenly host regard the law of God as the foundation of His government and their interest in the plan of redemption, with lovely cherubim on each end whose wings are spread out over the ark and raised on high touching each other above, their faces turned toward each other and looking downward to the ark.
By the heavenly ark Jesus stands and presents the prayers of the saints coming up in faith to Him, offering them with incense to the Father as sweet fragrance like smoke of most beautiful colors from a golden censer between the cherubim. Glory comes from God to Jesus and from Jesus is shed upon praying saints, while light and glory pour upon Jesus in rich abundance and overshadow the mercy-seat until the train of glory fills the temple. The passage is one of the specifications for building the tabernacle that was repeated to fellow workers while working quickly and skillfully with the hands making tents, to educate them as in touch with the great Teacher. It was so used to give an example of diligence and thoroughness, to educate believers in unity, and to teach that supreme honor is to be given to God and that the skill, genius, and wisdom brought into the work of building the tabernacle were given by God to be used for His glory.