Ark of the Covenant

The principal article of furniture in the Temple of Solomon at Jerusalem was the Ark of the Covenant. It was a small coffer or box which contained certain symbolic articles. It was surmounted by the cherubim and between the wings of these fabled characters was the shekinah or perpetual cloud, from which the bathkol (Hebrew: bat kol) issued when consulted by the High Priest. The idea of an Ark as a repository for some sacred article goes back into antiquity; these arks usually contained some symbol of Life and Stability; the Jewish Ark was undoubtedly copied from the Egyptian Ark. T’he degree of Most Excellent Master is intimately connected with the deposit of the Ark of the Covenant within the Sanctum Sanctorum of Solomon’s Temple. The Solomonic Temple was erected for the primary purpose of housing the Ark. After the destruction of the first temple there has been no record as to what happened to this article of furniture. [Contributed by Mark Adler, from Ray V. Denslow’s Encyclopedia A Royal Arch

Article was taken from Royal Arch Educational Minute, Grand Chapter State of NY Royal Arch Masons (www.ny-royal-arch.org)