The Ark-cover, also known as the "Mercy Seat," is a significant element in the religious and ceremonial life of ancient Israel as described in the Old Testament. It is the lid or covering of the Ark of the Covenant, which was housed in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle and later in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Ark-cover holds profound theological and symbolic importance, representing God's presence, mercy, and the atonement for sin.

Biblical Description

The Ark-cover is first mentioned in the book of Exodus, where God provides Moses with detailed instructions for its construction. According to Exodus 25:17-22 , the Ark-cover was to be made of pure gold, measuring two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide. It was to be adorned with two cherubim of gold, hammered out at the ends of the cover. These cherubim faced each other, with their wings spread upward, overshadowing the Ark-cover. The space between the cherubim was considered the earthly throne of God, where He would meet with Moses and communicate His commandments for the Israelites.

Theological Significance

The Ark-cover is central to the Day of Atonement rituals described in Leviticus 16. On this solemn day, the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place and sprinkle the blood of a sacrificial animal on and before the Ark-cover. This act symbolized the atonement for the sins of the people of Israel, highlighting the Ark-cover's role as a place of divine mercy and forgiveness. The term "Mercy Seat" reflects this function, emphasizing God's willingness to forgive and reconcile with His people.

The Ark-cover also signifies God's presence among His people. In Exodus 25:22 , God declares, "And I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony; I will speak with you about all that I command you regarding the Israelites." This promise underscores the Ark-cover as a focal point of divine-human interaction, where God would reveal His will and guidance.

Symbolism and Typology

In Christian theology, the Ark-cover is often seen as a typological foreshadowing of Jesus Christ's redemptive work. Just as the high priest sprinkled blood on the Ark-cover to atone for sin, Christ's sacrificial death is viewed as the ultimate atonement for humanity's sins. The Apostle Paul alludes to this in Romans 3:25 , where he writes, "God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand."

The Ark-cover, therefore, serves as a powerful symbol of God's justice and mercy, pointing to the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Through Him, believers find the ultimate expression of God's grace and the assurance of forgiveness and reconciliation with God.Ark-cover (21 Occurrences)

Exodus 25:17
And thou shalt make a mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half'shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
(See JPS)

Exodus 25:18
And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold; of beaten work shalt thou make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat.
(See JPS)

Exodus 25:19
And make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end: of one piece with the mercy-seat shall ye make the cherubim on the two ends thereof.
(See JPS)

Exodus 25:20
And the cherubim shall spread out their wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy-seat shall the faces of the cherubim be.
(See JPS)

Exodus 25:21
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.
(See JPS)

Exodus 25:22
And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
(See JPS)

Exodus 26:34
And thou shalt put the mercy-seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
(See JPS)

Exodus 30:6
And thou shalt put it before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy-seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.
(See JPS)

Exodus 31:7
the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy-seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the Tent,
(See JPS)

Exodus 35:12
the ark, and the staves thereof, the mercy-seat, and the veil of the screen;
(See JPS)

Exodus 37:6
And he made a mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
(See JPS)

Exodus 37:7
And he made two cherubim of gold; of beaten work made he them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat;
(See JPS)

Exodus 37:8
one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end: of one piece with the mercy-seat made he the cherubim at the two ends thereof.
(See JPS)

Exodus 37:9
And the cherubim spread out their wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy-seat were the faces of the cherubim.
(See JPS)

Exodus 39:35
the ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy-seat;
(See JPS)

Exodus 40:20
And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy-seat above upon the ark:
(See JPS)

Leviticus 16:2
and Jehovah said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil, before the mercy-seat which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat.
(See JPS)

Leviticus 16:13
and he shall put the incense upon the fire before Jehovah, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy-seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:
(See JPS)

Leviticus 16:15
Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy-seat, and before the mercy-seat:
(See JPS)

Numbers 7:89
And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with him, then he heard the Voice speaking unto him from above the mercy-seat that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim: and he spake unto him.
(See JPS)

1 Chronicles 28:11
Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch of the temple, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper rooms thereof, and of the inner chambers thereof, and of the place of the mercy-seat;
(See JPS)

Ark-cover (21 Occurrences)
Ark-cover. Ark, Ark-cover. Arkite . Multi-Version Concordance
Ark-cover (21 Occurrences). Exodus 25:17 And thou shalt ...
/a/ark-cover.htm - 12k

Overshadowing (5 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:20 And the cherubim shall spread out their wings on high, screening the
ark-cover with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the ark...
/o/overshadowing.htm - 8k

Faced (32 Occurrences)
... Exodus 37:9 And the cherubim spread out their wings on high, screening the ark-cover
with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the ark-cover...
/f/faced.htm - 15k

Bull's (8 Occurrences)
... the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did
with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the ark-cover, and before ...
/b/bull's.htm - 8k

Sprinkling (48 Occurrences)
... the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did
with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the ark-cover, and before ...
/s/sprinkling.htm - 29k

Arkite (7 Occurrences)

/a/arkite.htm - 9k

Furnishings (22 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Exodus 31:7 the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the
ark-cover that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the Tent; (See RSV NIV). ...
/f/furnishings.htm - 13k

Portico (37 Occurrences)
... houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper rooms thereof, and
of the inner chambers thereof, and of the place of the ark-cover; (See NIV). ...
/p/portico.htm - 19k

Plans (55 Occurrences)
... houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper rooms thereof, and
of the inner chambers thereof, and of the place of the ark-cover; (See NIV). ...
/p/plans.htm - 20k

Plan (58 Occurrences)
... houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper rooms thereof, and
of the inner chambers thereof, and of the place of the ark-cover; (See NAS ...
/p/plan.htm - 23k

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