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== Old Covenant ==

The '''Ark of the Covenant''' is actually two items, the Ark of the Old Covenant and the Ark of the New Covenant.

The Ark of the Old Covenant was a sacred ark which the [[Ten Commandments]] and a jar of manna were kept in.  It is described in detail in God's instructions on making it in Exodus 25:9-22:

==Old Covenant==

"Have them make a chest of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.  Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the chest to carry it. The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed. Then put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you.  

The Ark of the Old Covenant was a sacred ark which the [[Ten Commandments]] and a jar of [[manna]] were kept in.  It is described in detail in [[God]]'s instructions on making it in [[Exodus]] 25:9-22: <blockquote>"Have them make a chest of [[acacia]] wood—two and a half [[cubit]]s long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.  Overlay it with pure [[gold]], both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. Cast four gold [[ring]]s for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the chest to carry it. The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed. Then put in the ark the [[Testimony]], which I will give you.  

Make an atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 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. The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you. There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites."

Make an [[atone]]ment cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. And make two [[cherub]]im out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 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. The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you. There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites."</blockquote>

===Dangers associated with the ark===

 

===Dangers associated with the Ark of the Old Covenant===

The ark was very dangerous.  [[Uzzah]] was killed for touching the ark (since he was not of the Priestly order), and 50,760 citizens of [[Beth-shemesh]] were killed by God because some of them looked inside it.

The ark was very dangerous.  [[Uzzah]] was killed for touching the ark (since he was not of the Priestly order), and 50,760 citizens of [[Beth-shemesh]] were killed by God because some of them looked inside it.

== New Covenant ==

== New Covenant ==

 

The Ark of the New Covenant is the Blessed [[Virgin]] [[Mary]], who, just as the Ark of the Old Covenant bore the God's Commandments, bore Our [[Lord]], [[Jesus Christ]].

The Ark of the New Covenant is the Blessed Virgin Mary, who, just as the Ark of the Old Covenant bore the God's Commandments, bore Our Lord, Jesus Christ.