Topical Bible: Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Siege of Jericho

◄ Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Siege of Jericho ►

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The Ark of the Covenant holds a central place in the narrative of the Israelites, serving as a symbol of God's presence and covenant with His people. Constructed according to divine instructions given to Moses on Mount Sinai, the Ark was a sacred chest made of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold, and featuring a gold lid known as the Mercy Seat. It contained the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod that budded, and a pot of manna, representing God's law, priestly authority, and provision.

During the conquest of Canaan, the Ark played a pivotal role in the Siege of Jericho, as recorded in the Book of Joshua. The Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, were commanded by God to take the city of Jericho, a fortified city standing as a formidable obstacle in their path to the Promised Land. The Ark of the Covenant was integral to the strategy ordained by God for the capture of Jericho.

In Joshua 6:1-5 , the Lord instructed Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its mighty men of valor. March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. And when there is a long blast of the ram’s horn and you hear its sound, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the wall of the city will collapse, and the people will go up, each man straight ahead."

The Ark, carried by the priests, led the procession around Jericho, signifying God's leadership and presence with His people. For six days, the Israelites circled the city once each day, with the Ark at the forefront, accompanied by the sounding of rams' horns. On the seventh day, they circled the city seven times. As the priests blew the horns and the people shouted, the walls of Jericho miraculously collapsed, allowing the Israelites to take the city as God had promised.

The presence of the Ark during the siege underscored its role as a divine instrument of guidance and victory. It was not merely a physical object but a manifestation of God's covenantal faithfulness and power. The Ark's involvement in the fall of Jericho demonstrated that the success of the Israelites was not due to military might or strategy but to their obedience to God's commands and the presence of the Almighty among them.

The Ark of the Covenant, throughout its history, served as a tangible reminder of God's promises and His active role in the lives of His chosen people. Its presence at Jericho was a testament to the belief that God fights for His people and that victory is assured when they follow His divine will.

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Joshua 6:6
And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.
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