Posted on 05/29/2005 1:28:15 PM PDT by wagglebee
"Raiders of the Lost Ark" is one of my all-time favorite movies, filled with mystery and adventure. It focuses on the search for a biblical artifact and treasure called The Ark of the Covenant. What makes the movie particularly exciting is how closely it mimics (with some added Hollywood flair) the real life hunt for the lost Ark.
History has it that the original Ark was where God manifested His presence on earth beginning in the days of Moses. The Ark was designed as a chest made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. It had four golden rings. Each one attached to a corner. These rings provided a means to carry the Ark by inserting two wooden bars (also overlaid with gold) on either side. Atop the Ark were two golden cherubim spreading their wings over the Ark's cover also known as the mercy seat.
The Ark itself contained the Ten Commandments and was housed in the innermost room of the Jewish Temple called the Holy of Holies. Here it was the center of worship, although actual access to the Ark was permitted only once a year on the Day of Atonement called Yom Kippur. On that day, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies with the blood of a goat to make atonement for the sins of the Israelites.
Other contents of the Ark included Aaron's rod and a golden pot of manna. Additionally, the Ark is renowned for its mysterious powers. According to the Bible, when the Ark was carried by the people of Israel into battle, it protected the Israelites, supernaturally defeating any adversaries that came before them.
This explains why in the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark" the Nazis were intent on obtaining it. Their theory (as the story line goes) was that they would be unbeatable if they possessed the Ark and could harness its mysterious powers. Of course, as both the movie and history would have it, things didn't quite work out for the Nazis.
But what of the Ark?
It is believed to have disappeared with the destruction of the First Temple by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon in 586 B.C. The exact whereabouts of the Ark have remained a mystery ever since.
One theory is that the Ark was taken from ancient Jerusalem by Prince Menelik of Ethiopia. Menelik was the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Menelik purportedly brought the Ark to his country for safekeeping where it currently remains housed in a church in Axum.
Another theory is that the Ark was hidden in a secret chamber housed beneath Jerusalem's Temple Mount. The alleged secret chamber was created by either King Solomon, who built the First Temple, or a subsequent king before the temple was plundered by Nebuchadnezzar.
One version of this theory suggests that in the early 12th century a group of nine Frenchmen known as the original Knights Templars excavated beneath the site of the old Temple of Jerusalem. They retrieved the true Ark of the Covenant and secreted it away.
A second more popular version suggests the Ark is still located in a vault somewhere in the miles of tunnels carved beneath the city of Jerusalem. It is believed the location of the Ark will be revealed when the time is right for the Jewish Temple to be built for the third time.
One famous adherent to this theory is Dr. Vendyl Jones. He is a modern-day explorer and teacher and the true inspiration for the Indiana Jones series. Startling the world, he announced last week on Israel National Radio that he actually knows the location of the Ark.
He says according to ancient documents the Ark is hidden in a secret passage that runs 18 miles south of the Temple Mount into the Judean Desert. Before dismissing his claim as a lark, it is worth noting that Jones published a book in 1959 predicting the precise outbreak of the Six Day War.
He calculated the war in 1967 by analyzing the sequence of events in the First Temple period and transposing them on the Third Temple period. The First Temple period began with its original construction in the days of King Solomon. The Third Temple period began according to Jones with the Jews founding an independent state in the land of Israel in 1948.
Now Jones is convinced that with the help of ancient documents found in Qumran, he has pinpointed the location of the Ark. And armed with the blessing of religious leaders, Jones hopes to reveal the location of the Ark by Aug. 14, which marks the Fast of Tisha B'Av. This holy day commemorates repeated tragedy in Jewish history including the destruction of both the First and the Second Holy Temples.
Jones' plan is simple. It is to drill a borehole into the chamber containing the Ark, drop a pin-camera in and reveal the historic treasure to a watching world.
If Jones is right, many predict this event will turn the world upside down. Jones says this will bring an end to the government's plan to uproot Jews of Gaza and northern Samaria. It also will bring the very idea of any Palestinian state to a screeching halt. In fact, Jones predicts quite the opposite will occur. With the discovery of the Ark, the Jewish people will have the greatest motivation of all time to return to Israel from around the world and rebuild the Temple to house this holy treasure.
Of course, whether Jones actually uncovers the Ark is not the sole issue. Equally compelling is proving once more through science that the Bible is more than just a collection of parables. Are you ready for this?
No.
Rather that different groups of Jews will have different view of the meaning and consequences of the appearance.
Thanks for the explanations and insight. Its obvious your very knowledgeable.
Bookmark to read later
Does. It. Matter?
Hehe. The "g" and "v" on my keyboard are close enough that I put the best construction on things.
Well, with all the clutter, I can't say for certain... but you can probably rule out my garage.
I happen to believe your assessment is correct. Does the First Amendment allow for the practice of a religion based on the Koran?
This truth, as expounded in Romans 3, was spoken to me this morning. I need to hear it often, because it is easily despised and forgotten.
YES. All you had to get to there was "Does the First Amendment allow for the practice of a religion --" and the answer is yes. Specific practices of the religion may be outlawed (eg polygamy, a practice in a number of religions, is not recognised in the US as valid). A religion cannot be outlawed.
from 0717 (in the sense of gathering)
0717 'arah {aw-raw'}
a primitive root; TWOT - 158; v
AV - pluck 1, gather 1; 2
1) to pluck, gather
1a) (Qal) to pluck (grapes)
testament/covenant:
01285 b@riyth {ber-eeth'}
from 01262 (in the sense of cutting [like 1254]); TWOT - 282a; n f
AV - covenant 264, league 17, confederacy 1, confederate 1,
confederate + 01167 1; 284
1) covenant, alliance, pledge
1a) between men
1a1) treaty, alliance, league (man to man)
1a2) constitution, ordinance (monarch to subjects)
1a3) agreement, pledge (man to man)
1a4) alliance (of friendship)
1a5) alliance (of marriage)
1b) between God and man
1b1) alliance (of friendship)
1b2) covenant (divine ordinance with signs or pledges)
2) (phrases)
2a) covenant making
2b) covenant keeping
2c) covenant violation
What was in the ark...
Hebrews 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
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;
Hebrews 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
Aaron's rod, a sign for the sons of rebellion (Numbers 17)
Pot of manna
Law
The manna and the Law were within the ark, which are symbols of that which should be within one's heart (bread of life, law written on the heart). I haven't done a study on Aaron's rod, but I did notice the similarity between Aaron's name (alef hei resh vav nun) and the word for the ark (aron - alef, resh, vav, nun).
If the ark (or perhaps only the contents of the ark) is still on earth (not discounting a heaveny ark, which could also mirror the symbolism of the contents of the hearts faithful to YHVH), then it/they might be where the ark (heart) has always been: in the Word, or Oracle; that is, the Holy of Holies or inner sanctuary. A multi-level play on words:
01688 D@biyr {deb-eer'} or (shortened) D@bir (Josh. 13:26 [but see 3810])
{deb-eer'}
the same as 01687;;
AV - Debir 14; 14
Debir = "sanctuary"
n pr m
1) the king of Eglon, one of the five kings hanged by Joshua
n pr loc
2) a town in the mountains of Judah west of Hebron and given to the
priests and a city of refuge
3) a place on the northern boundary of Judah
4) a town in the territory of Gad
the same as 01687...
01687 d@biyr {deb-eer'} or (shortened) d@bir {deb-eer'}
from 01696 (apparently in the sense of oracle); TWOT - 399g; n m
AV - oracle 16; 16
1) the holy of holies, the innermost room of the temple or tabernacle
1a) hindmost chamber, innermost room of the temple of Solomon, most
holy place, holy of holies
2) (TWOT) oracle
(cf. Strong's #1697)
***
Curiously enough, there is a researcher who proposes that the ark is in above town. If he is aware of this word play, he doesn't mention it anywhere on his site (I haven't seen it, anyway).
In the next part, we shall see that the Ark covered in Gold was taken by Shishak when he invaded at the time of Rehoboam. That is confirmed in the Talmud.
PESACHIM 87b. "The Great Treasure ( which Joseph had accumulated in Egypt and more) described in G-D's promise to Abraham ( Genesis 15:14 ) returned to Egypt."
The tales of an Ark being hidden under the Temple may very well have applied to the simple ark of wood containing the stones which Moses had taken up the mountain, but the Ark of Gold according to the Tanakh went to Egypt. The question is what happened to the contents? The broken stones which G-D had given to Moses?
We shall see that they could very possibly be in the place where the treasure was transferred to Shishak, a little village in the Judean Hills which the son of Shishak refers to in his records. The amount of corroborative evidence is quite impressive...
http://www.biblemysteries.com/library/arks.htm
http://www.biblemysteries.com/library/djaharya.htm
http://www.biblemysteries.com/library/ark.htm
From Easton's dictionary:
[Debir]
oracle town; sanctuary. (1.) One of the eleven cities to the west of Hebron, in the highlands of Judah (Josh. 15:49; Judg. 1:11-15). It was originally one of the towns of the Anakim (Josh. 15:15), and was also called Kirjath-sepher (q.v.) and Kirjath-sannah (49). Caleb, who had conquered and taken possession of the town and district of Hebron (Josh. 14:6-15), offered the hand of his daughter to any one who would successfully lead a party against Debir. Othniel, his younger brother (Judg. 1:13; 3:9), achieved the conquest, and gained Achsah as his wife. She was not satisfied with the portion her father gave her, and as she was proceeding toward her new home, she "lighted from off her ass" and said to him, "Give me a blessing [i.e., a dowry]: for thou hast given me a south land" (Josh. 15:19, A.V.); or, as in the Revised Version, "Thou hast set me in the land of the south", i.e., in the Negeb, outside the rich valley of Hebron, in the dry and barren land. "Give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs."
Debir has been identified with the modern Edh-Dhaheriyeh, i.e., "the well on the ridge", to the south of Hebron. <<<
Regardless of any possible literal earthly location of these relics, the symbolic meaning holds true: the Law and bread from Heaven (bread of life) is located in the hearts of those faithful to YHVH.
Matthew 6:19-21
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
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.
If any of the original contents are to be discovered here on earth, Aaron's rod would be a likely candidate - being a sign for the sons of rebellion - as well as the broken tablets and manna that is stinky and wormy.
Exodus 16:19 And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning. 20 Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.
Numbers 17:10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token [sign] against the rebels [b'nei meri]; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.
Hmmm, and if the rod is withered...
Should read as "who proposes that the contents of the ark are in the above town."
Well .. it allows Wicca - which is satan worship ..??
The most likely explanation is that the gold was stripped and the wood burned in the course of one conquest or another.
I disagree. Uzziah was struck dead because he was not a Levitical priest. The ark was being transported on a new cart rather than carried by the priests. Righteous faith was not the issue; it was following the prescribed method which the Lord had given. Later, David modified the transportation and had only Levites doing the work.
Good deeds can never compete with the sacrifices, under the Law.
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