The Ark of the Covenant contained the tables of the Ten Commandments, a sampling of the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded.
Les Feldick plainly states that the Ark was 'that little box overlaid with gold' in which were the tables of the Ten Commandments, a sampling of the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded [Clip 1]. The New Testament record in Hebrews 9:4 likewise lists the golden pot that had manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant. Above the Ark sat the mercy seat, and the Shekinah glory hovered directly over it as the sign of God's presence with Israel [Clips 2, 4].
Hebrews 9:4 — This verse explicitly lists the three items inside the Ark of the Covenant, directly answering the question.
The King James Scripture states plainly that the Ark of the Covenant was 'overlaid round about with gold' and that it contained three specific items: the golden pot that had manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant (Hebrews 9:4). The tables of the covenant were the two tables of stone containing the Ten Commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses to place inside the ark, with the mercy seat to be placed above it (Exodus 25:16, 21; Deuteronomy 10:5). The record in Revelation also shows the temple of God opened in heaven, with the ark of His testament seen in His temple (Revelation 11:19).
Les Feldick teaches that the Ark of the Covenant was 'that little box overlaid with gold' in which were the tables of the Ten Commandments, a sampling of the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded [Clip 1]. He points out that the Hebrew word translated 'ark' is the same word translated 'coffin' in the last verse of Genesis, so the ark was simply a rectangular box - special and overlaid with gold, but still just a box [Clips 2, 3]. Les places the Ark at the center of Israel's worship. The mercy seat rested above the Ark as the place of mercy, where the high priest came only once a year [Clips 1, 6]. The Shekinah glory - the cloud by day and the fire by night - hovered directly above the Ark in the Holy of Holies, and the Ark signified the very presence of God that led Israel [Clips 0, 2, 4]. Les also notes that the Ark appears in the heavenly temple in Revelation 11:19, and he observes that Israel will frantically search for the Ark when they prepare to rebuild their temple [Clip 5].
Les describes the Ark as a rectangular box overlaid with gold. He specifies that it was constructed of acacia wood covered with gold, and that it was simply a box according to the Hebrew word, which is also translated 'coffin' in the last chapter of Genesis [Clips 2, 3]. It was small, covered with gold, and had a role to play in the tabernacle, but it had no special dimensions [Clips 1, 3].
Above the Ark of the Covenant was the mercy seat, which Les identifies as 'the place of mercy' [Clip 1]. The high priest would come behind the veil only once a year to the mercy seat, where he would sprinkle [Clips 0, 6]. The Scriptures record God's command to put the mercy seat above the ark and to put the testimony (the tables of the covenant) inside it (Exodus 25:21-22).
Les teaches that the Shekinah glory, the cloud by day and the fire by night, set itself directly above the Ark in the Holy of Holies, making the Ark the sign of God's very presence and mercy leading Israel [Clips 2, 4]. When Israel crossed the Jordan, the priests bore the Ark and the people kept a space of about 2,000 cubits behind it, and the Ark went before them [Clip 4].
Les notes that there are those who claim they know where the Ark of the Covenant is, and he says Israel will frantically look for it when they get their temple rebuilt in the near future [Clip 5]. He also points to the Book of Revelation, where John saw the temple of God opened in heaven and the Ark of His covenant seen in His temple [Clip 5].
The Shekinah Glory Above the Ark
Les sets the scene of the tabernacle: the veil kept everyone from the Holy of Holies, and the Shekinah cloud hovered directly above the Ark, where only the high priest could go once a year.
The Three Items Inside the Ark
Les explicitly states that inside the Ark were the tables of the Ten Commandments, a sampling of the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, with the mercy seat above it.
Acacia Wood Overlaid With Gold
Les explains the Ark was made of acacia wood but covered with gold and was the very indication of the presence of God in Israel's early days.
The Hebrew Word 'Ark' Means Box
Les shows the Hebrew word for ark is also translated 'coffin' in Genesis, so the Ark of the Covenant was simply a rectangular box overlaid with gold.
The Ark Leading Israel
Les describes the Shekinah glory settling above the Ark in the Holy of Holies and the Ark leading Israel across the Jordan with the people keeping 2,000 cubits behind it.
The Ark in Heaven and Israel's Future Search
Les points to the Ark of His covenant seen in the heavenly temple (Revelation 11:19) and says Israel will frantically search for the Ark when they rebuild the temple.
The Mercy Seat and the High Priest
Les reminds us that the mercy seat, where the high priest came once a year to sprinkle, was part of the Ark of the Covenant's role in the tabernacle.
Is the New Covenant for Israel or the Church? Jeremiah 31 Explained
But in order to bring in the religious system of the Law, God also had to add to those Ten Commandments all the rituals. In other words all the regulations, and the rules, and the commandments of dealing with each other, which we call the civil law, and then all the stipulations for the priesthood, which we call the ecclesiastical part of the Law, and then of course God gives Moses the instruction…
Hebrews 9:4: Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
This verse names the three items inside the Ark that Les identifies from the tabernacle: the manna, Aaron's rod, and the tables of the covenant.
Exodus 25:21-22: And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
God's instruction places the testimony inside the ark and the mercy seat above it, the same arrangement Les describes.
Deuteronomy 10:5: And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me.
Moses records that the two tables were placed in the ark.
Revelation 11:19: And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
John sees the Ark of the covenant in the heavenly temple, which Les references.
Genesis 50:26: So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Les uses this verse to show the Hebrew word for ark is the same word translated 'coffin,' meaning a box.
Joshua 3:3-4: And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
The Ark led Israel across the Jordan, with the people keeping 2,000 cubits behind it.
According to Les Feldick, the Ark contained the tables of the Ten Commandments, a sampling of the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded [Clip 1]. Hebrews 9:4 confirms these same three items: the golden pot that had manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant.
Les explains that the Hebrew word for 'ark' is the same word translated 'coffin' in the last verse of Genesis, so the Ark of the Covenant was simply a rectangular box [Clip 3]. It was special because it was overlaid with gold, but it had no special dimensions [Clips 1, 3].
The mercy seat sat above the Ark of the Covenant [Clip 1]. Les calls it 'the place of mercy,' and it was where the high priest came once a year to sprinkle [Clips 1, 6]. God told Moses the mercy seat was to be placed above the ark (Exodus 25:21).
Les Feldick says Israel is going to frantically look for the Ark when they prepare to rebuild their temple, and some claim to know where it is [Clip 5]. He also points to the Ark of His covenant seen in the heavenly temple in Revelation 11:19 [Clip 5].
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