The Ark of the Covenant was designed by God himself, contained sacred treasures important to worship(Hebrews 9:4; Exodus 16:32-34; Numbers 17:10; 1Kings 8:9; 2Chronicles 5:10), and represented His very presence(Exodus 25:22)(Numbers 7:89). He actually spoke to specific people 'above the cover' of the Ark(Leviticus 16:2).
It was public knowledge, that God would permit ONLY Kohathite Levites to touch and carry the Ark(Numbers 4:15,19,20), and he told them EXACTLY how to carry it(Exodus 25:13-16). Obedience to this law was of prime importance, because disobedience would mean death.
When David moved the Ark, he did not take the proper precautions(1 Chronicles 13:6-7) and when Uzzah, who was leading the procession, saw the Ark start to slip from the wagon it was riding on, he grabbed it(1 Chronicles 13:9-10). The Bible calls what he did an "irreverent act"(2 Samuel 6:7), so chances are his heart motivation was involved. Perhaps he was trying to stand out as important..."Johnny on the spot"...we don't know exactly, but the breaking of God's law was punishable by death. It was THAT important. Later, David corrected his own thinking and obeyed what God told him, to the letter,(1 Chronicles 15:12-15), having the Levites carry the Ark on their shoulders.
The man who died for touching the Ark of the Covenant was named Uzzah.2 Samuel 6:6, 7 - And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. [NKJV]
The ark of the covenant is important to the Hebrews because it symbolizes the presence of God among them and serves as a connection between God and his people. It contains the tablets of the Ten Commandments and represents the covenant made between God and the Israelites. Additionally, the ark is associated with miracles and divine protection in Hebrew scripture.
Ark of the Covenant
god
David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Mt Zion in Jerusalem from the house of Abinadab in Gibeah. It was placed in a temporary tabernacle.
The holy ark was the Ark of the Covenant in which the two Stone Tablets with the Ten Commandments were held. It was a heavy wooden box covered with gold, with a gold lid. Exodus ch.25.See also:Where is the ark of the Covenant?
The Ark of the Covenant
that is the Ark of the Covenant. The Bible states that it is a sacred container wich houses the tablets of the 10 commandaments. For more information I posted in the related links box below the wikipedia article on the Ark of the Covenant.
The Ark of the Covenant is said to have carried the tablets of the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God, as well as Aaron's rod and a pot of manna.
Answer The Ark of the Covenant was built the same year the Israelites left Egypt in the Exodus, dated as 1446BC [Ussher] . This was the same year that God gave Moses the 10 Commandments, and the Ark of the Covenant was built to put the stone tablets inside.
The special box used to hold the tablets of the Ten Commandments is called the Ark of the Covenant. It is a sacred chest described in the Bible as containing the two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God. The Ark was believed to be a powerful symbol of God's presence among the Israelites.
The Holy of Holies.