Topical Encyclopedia
The Ark of the Covenant, a central and sacred object within the religious life of ancient Israel, is described in the Bible as a chest made of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold, and adorned with a gold molding. It served as the earthly throne of God, symbolizing His presence among His people. The Ark contained the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod that budded, and a pot of manna (
Hebrews 9:4).
The anointing of the Ark with sacred oil is a significant aspect of its consecration and sanctification. Anointing with oil in the Old Testament is a ritual act that signifies setting apart an object or person for a holy purpose, symbolizing the presence and blessing of God. The use of sacred oil for anointing is detailed in the instructions given to Moses for the consecration of the Tabernacle and its furnishings.
In
Exodus 30:22-29, God commands Moses to prepare a holy anointing oil, composed of myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, cassia, and olive oil. This oil was to be used exclusively for anointing the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, and all its furnishings, as well as the priests who would serve in the sanctuary. The passage states: "You are to consecrate them so that they will be most holy. Whatever touches them will be holy" (
Exodus 30:29).
The anointing of the Ark with this sacred oil underscores its sanctity and the divine presence it represents. The act of anointing set the Ark apart from all other objects, marking it as a vessel of God's covenant with Israel. This consecration was not merely a ritualistic formality but a profound declaration of the Ark's role in the spiritual life of the nation.
The Ark's anointing also prefigures the anointing of Jesus Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant promises. The Hebrew word for "anointed one" is "Messiah," and in Greek, it is "Christ." Just as the Ark was anointed and set apart for God's purposes, so too was Jesus anointed by the Holy Spirit to fulfill His redemptive mission.
Throughout Israel's history, the Ark of the Covenant served as a powerful symbol of God's presence, guidance, and covenantal faithfulness. Its anointing with sacred oil was a vital part of its consecration, ensuring that it remained a holy and revered object within the life of the Israelite community.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Exodus 30:26And you shall anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Library
Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... I saw now that the angel touched or anointed Joachim's forehead with the tip of ... from
Joseph and his wife, with increased virtue, to the Ark of the Covenant. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/i ancestors of the blessed.htm
Questions on the Explanations
... What was the "Ark of the Covenant," and what did it contain? ... Of what were the ark
and its contents figures? ... How often in their lives are Catholics anointed? ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/questions on the explanations.htm
Faustus Denies that the Prophets Predicted Christ. Augustin Proves ...
... Christ is expressed, for, as all know, Christ means anointed. ... fall when compassed
seven times by the ark of the ... of the seven days of time the covenant of God ...
/.../faustus denies that the prophets.htm
The Seven Trumpets.
... of the world hath become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Anointed; and he ... And
the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of his covenant in his ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the seven trumpets.htm
The Immaculate Conception
... Then he took a vase of oil and anointed the child's five senses, touching ... of Egypt,
and became the Israelites' sacred treasure in the Ark of the Covenant. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/ii the immaculate conception.htm
All Joy in all Trials
... the ancient types placed in the ark of the ... faith makes me a partaker of covenant
blessings; from ... are recognized as being the Lord's anointed comforters, made ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 29 1883/all joy in all trials.htm
The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... and of His Spirit inspiring His prophets, as well as of the anointed stones which ...
and it was at the latter spot that they deposited the ark of the covenant. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm
The Death of the Blessed virgin Mary at Ephesus
... family of the priests who had carried the Ark of the ... that in the sacrifice of the
New Covenant they always ... From the boxes which John held he anointed her with ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xviii the death of the.htm
The Joy of the Lord, the Strength of his People
... he has displayed his glory in the covenant of grace ... would fain dance like David before
the ark of the ... become experiences, then are we indeed anointed with the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the joy of the lord.htm
The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
... The anointed of the Lord, who was our consolation, is ... When the ark of the covenant
was carried away by ... impression made by it upon the people of the covenant. ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the blessing of jacob upon.htm
Resources
Were there dinosaurs on Noah's ark? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Ark of the Covenant? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did God strike Uzzah dead for touching the Ark of the Covenant? | GotQuestions.orgArk: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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