utensils, but never name the ark, seems conclusive on the subject. But, notwithstanding this weight of* testi- mony, there are writers, such as Prideaux (Connection, i, 207), who contend that the Jews could not properly carry on their worship without an ark, and that if the original ark was not recovered after the Captivity, a new one must have been made (Calmet's Dissertation surVArehe d1 Alliance; Hase, De lapide cui area impo- sitafuit, Erb. and Lpz. n. d. 4to). See Temple.
Concerning the design and form of the ark, it ap- pears that clear and unexpected light has been thrown by the discoveries which have of late years been made in Egypt, and which have unfold- ed to us the rites and myste- ries of the old Egyptians. (See Descr. de VEgypte, Att. i, pi. 11, fig. 4 ; pi. 12, fig. 3 ; iii, pi. 32, 34, 3G ; comp. Rosenmul- ler, Morgenl. ii, 9G sq. ; Heeren, Ideen, II, ii, 831 ; Spencer, Leg. ril. iii, 5, p. 1084 sq. ; Bahr, Symbol, i, 381, 402 sq.) "One of the most important cere- _ monies was the ' procession of u Vy
shrines,' which is mentioned Egyptian Ark. From the in the Rosetta stone, and fre- Monuments,
quently occurs on the walls of the temples. The shrines were of two kinds : the one a sort of canopy ; the other an ark or sacred boat, which may be termed the great shrine. This was carried with grand pomp by the priests, a certain number being selected for that duty, who supported it on their shoulders by means of long staves, passing through metal rings at the side of the sledge on which it stood, and brought it into the temple, where it was deposited upon a stand or table, in order that the prescribed ceremonies might be discharged before it. The stand was also carried in procession b}- another set of priests, following the shrine, by means of similar staves ; a method usually adopted for carrying large statues and sacred em- blems, too heavy or too important to be borne by one person. The same is stated to have been the custom of the Jews in some of their religious processions (comp. 1 Chron. xv, 2, 15; 2 Sam. xv, 24; and Josh, iii, 12), as in carrying the ark to its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, when the Temple was built by Solomon (1 Kings viii, G)." . . . . " Some of the arks or boats contained the emblems of Life and Stability, which, when the veil was drawn aside, were partially seen ; and others presented the beetle to the sun, overshadowed by the wings of two figures of the goddess Thenei, or Truth, which call to mind the cherubim of the Jews" (Wilkinson's Anc. Egyptians, v, 271, 275). The ritual of the Etruscans, Greeks, Romans, and other ancient nations, included the use of what Clemens Alexandrinus calls Kiarai /.wffTticai {Protrrpt. p. 12). The same Clemens (Strom. v, 578) also contains an allusion of a proverbial char- acter to the ark and its rites, which seems to show- that they were popularly known, where he says that "only the master (ciedaKaXoc) may uncover the ark" (/c(/3wro£-). In Latin, also, the word arcanum, con-
Ark borne in Procession by Egyptian Priests. From the Monuments.
ARK
404
ARKITE
necteil with area, and arceo, is the recognised term for a sacred mystery. (Illustrations of the same subject occur also in Pint. De Is. et Osi. c. 39 ; Euseb. Prcep. Evan;/, ii, 3.)
These resemblances and differences appear to us to cast a strong light, not only on the form, but on the purpose of the Jewish ark. The discoveries of this sort which have lately been made in Egypt have add- ed an overwhelming weight of proof to the evidence which previously existed, that the "tabernacle made with hands," with its utensils and ministers, bore a designed external resemblance to the Egyptian models, but purged of the details and peculiarities which were the most open to abuse and misconstruction. That the Israelites, during the latter part of their sojourn in Egypt, followed the rites and religion of the country, and were (at least many of them) gross idolaters, is distinctly affirmed in Scripture (Josh, xxiv, 14 ; Ezek. xxiii, 3, 8, 19), and is shown by their ready lapse into the worship of the "golden calf," and by the striking fact that they actually carried about with them one of these Egyptian shrines or tabernacles in the wilderness (Amos v, 2G). From their conduct, and the whole tone of their sentiments and character, it appears that this stiff-necked and rebellious people were incapable (as a nation) of adhering to that simple form of worship and service which is most pleasing to God. (See an article on this subject in the Am. Bib. Repos. Oct. 1843, p. 290-312.)— Kitto, s. v.
mmmmm
Ancient Egyptian Shrine.
The purpose or object of the ark was to contain in- violate the Divine autograph of the two tables, that "covenant" from which it derived its title, the idea of which was inseparable from it, and which may be regarded as the depositum of the Jewish dispensation. The perpetual .safe custody of the material tables no doubt suggested the moral observance of the precepts inscribed. The words ofthe Audi. Vers, in 1 Chr. xiii, 3, seem to imply a use ofthe ark for the purpose of an oracle; but this is probably erroneous, and "we Bought it not" the meaning; so the Sept. renders it (see Gesenius, Lex.&. v. -:~~>. Occupying the inost