The Ark of the Covenant

¹⁰ “·Use acacia wood and build an Ark [^LThey will make an Ark of acacia wood; ^Cthe Ark, considered the footstool of God’s throne, was a powerful symbol of God’s presence; 1 Sam. 4] ·forty-five inches [^Ltwo and a half cubits] long, ·twenty-seven inches [^La cubit and a half] wide, and ·twenty-seven inches [^La cubit and a half] high. ¹¹ ·Cover the Ark [^LOverlay it] inside and out with pure gold, and put a gold ·strip [molding] all around it. ¹² ·Make [Cast] four gold rings for the Ark and attach them to its four feet, two rings on ·each [one side and two rings on the other] side. ¹³ Then make poles from acacia wood and ·cover [cast; overlay] them with gold. ¹⁴ Put the poles through the rings on the sides of the Ark, and use these poles to carry it. ¹⁵ These poles must always stay in the rings of the Ark. Do not take them out. ¹⁶ Then put in the Ark the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty; ^LTestimony] which I will make with you [^Ca reference to the tablets of the Ten Commandments].

¹⁷ “Then make the ·lid of the Ark [mercy seat; atonement cover] of pure gold. Make it ·forty-five inches [^Ltwo and a half cubits] long and ·twenty-seven inches [^Lone and a half cubits] wide. ¹⁸ ·Then hammer gold to make two creatures with wings [Make two cherubim of hammered gold], and put one on each end of the ·lid [mercy seat; atonement cover]. ¹⁹ Attach one ·creature [cherub] on one end of the ·lid [mercy seat; atonement cover] and the other ·creature [cherub] on the other end. Make them to be one piece with the ·lid [mercy seat; atonement cover] at the ends. ²⁰ The ·creatures’ [cherubim’s] wings should be spread upward, covering the ·lid [mercy seat; atonement cover], and the ·creatures [cherubim] are to face each other across the ·lid [mercy seat; atonement cover]. ²¹ Put this ·lid [mercy seat; atonement cover] on top of the Ark, and put in the Ark the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty; ^LTestimony] which I will make with you. ²² I will meet with you there, above the ·lid [mercy seat; atonement cover] between the two ·winged creatures [cherubim] on the Ark of the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty; ^LTestimony]. There I will give you all my commands for the ·Israelites [^Lsons/^Tchildren of Israel].