The Mishkan

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT - Conclusion

The Ark was passed on to the Temple of Solomon, c. 960 BC. It was placed in the Holy of Holies where it remained until C. 586 BCE when the Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. After that it disappeared and its whereabouts are shrouded in mystery.

Today, the Ark in the synagogue, the aron ha - kodesh, the Holy Ark containing the Torah scrolls brings to mind the memory of the original Ark of the Covenant.

Halacho 2. As soon as (the Jews) entered the Land (of Israel) they erected the Mishkan in Gilgol during the fourteen years in which they conquered and divided (the Land). From there they came to Shiloh, where they built a temple of stones and spread the curtains of the Mishkan over it, there being no (solid) roof. The Mishkan of Shiloh stood three hundred sixty- nine years. When Eli died it was destroyed, and they came to Nov (Nob) and built a Sanctuary there. When Samuel died, this was destroyed, and they came to Giv¹on and built a Sanctuary there. From Giv¹on they came to the permanent Temple. The time that Nov and Giv¹on stood came to fifty-seven years. Hilchos Bais Habechiroh Laws of the Temple Structure

From the Mishneh Torah, Rabbi Mosheh ben Maimon (the Rambam) English translation by Shimon Neubort 1985, Brooklyn, NYTHE ARK OF THE COVENANT - ARK COVER - THE CHERUBS

³Make a golden cover for the ark, 2 1/2 cubits long and 1 1/2 cubits wide. Make two golden cherubs, hammering them out from the two ends of the cover. One cherub shall be on one end, and and one on the other. Make the cherubs from [the same piece of gold] as the cover itself, on its two ends. The cherubs shall spread their wings upward so that their wings shield the cover. The cherubs shall face one another, but their faces shall [also be inclined downward] toward the cover. Place the cover on top of the ark [after] you place into the ark the testimony that I will give you. I will commune with you there, speaking to you from above the ark cover, from between the two cherubs that are on the Ark of Testimony. [In this manner] I will give you instructions for the Israelites.² Ex. 25: 16 -22 Kaplan, p. 385 What is the significance of the cherubim on top of the ark cover? Various interpretations are given about the meaning of these cherubim.

Rashi, medieval Talmudic commentator compares them to angels of destruction referring to the cherubim stationed at the entrance to the Garden of Eden.

³G-d banished [man] from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove away the man and stationed the cherubim at the east of Eden, along with the revolving sword blade to guard the path of the Tree of Life.² Gen. 3: 22-24 Kaplan, p.15

Idea of the cherubs and the cover as G-d¹s footstool and the Œmercy seat¹, seat of judgement.(?) Temples and Temple Service in Ancient Israel......

The Mishkan - continued