Ark of the Covenant

[jonpaultoo]

In the Old Testament, the ark is described as having "horns’. What exactley are these. I saw a program on the sasquatch channel that showed something like cow horns that emitted rays to destroy Israels enemies. I immediately stopped watching this silliness,of course. Thanks for any (name removed by moderator)ut.

 

[patrick457]

Hey there!
Actually, the Ark does NOT have any horns (the altar of incense does). What it does have is the so-called kapporet, aka ‘mercy seat’, this slab of gold on top of the Ark that seems to serve as its lid. Now, on the ends of this are figures of two cherubim, with wings overshadowing (or covering or screening or guarding; the Hebrew implies all of the above) the kapporet. Now we shouldn’t really think that they resembled our modern angels; it is thought by some that the cherubim were depicted here as looking very much like guardian beings of the Ancient Near East: some sort of human-animal or animal-animal hybrid (Ezekiel’s cherubim also were such), i.e. winged sphinxes - a lion’s/bull’s body, a human head, and an eagle’s wings - or griffins, for example.

As an aside, these creatures can usually be seen flanking thrones in ancient art, leading some to propose that the kapporet with the cherubim is a sort of representation of God’s throne, while the Ark represented the footstool.

Now, Jewish legend does record that when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, lightning/fire usually shot out from between the cherubim, killing off poisonous snakes and scorpions and burning off thorns that would get in the way. It is also described to rush at enemies by itself and burn them and even level mountains and such. Yep, Jewish folklore is one of the sources for Indiana Jones.

 

[jonpaultoo]

Hi there
In 1 Kings 2:51 NAB, Adonijah “holds the horns of the alter”. The footnotes says these were “proturberances on each of the four corners” that “constituted a place of asylum for transgressors of the law”. Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[John7]

Patrick is right, ark had no horns, check out Ex 37:1-7

Exodus 37:1 And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:
2 And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about.
3 And he cast for it four rings of gold, to be set by the four corners of it; even two rings upon the one side of it, and two rings upon the other side of it.
4 And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
5 And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
6 And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
7 And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat;

On the other hand the altar of incense and the altar for burnt offerings did have four horns at their corners.

I don’t know why the first picture of ark is depicted with horns …its error. But second picture is better with crown around top and mercy seat connected to cherubim.

 

[John7]

Hi there
In 1 Kings 2:51 NAB, Adonijah “holds the horns of the alter”. The footnotes says these were “proturberances on each of the four corners” that “constituted a place of asylum for transgressors of the law”. Any ideas?
Thanks

Does it say what altar…I think its the first altar he would have come to on entering the Tabernacle, which would have been the altar of incense which did have horns…not sure

Also happens in 1 Kings 2:28 and again it doesn’t specify which altar…doesn’t say the altar (mercy seat) in Holy of Holies.

 

[patrick457]

According to Louis Ginzberg’s Legends of the Jews (which is a compilation of various Jewish stories and lore):

It was through the Ark, also, that all the miracles on the way through the desert had been wrought. Two sparks issued from the Cherubim that shaded the Ark, and these killed all the serpents and scorpions that crossed the path of the Israelites, and furthermore burned all thorns that threatened to injure the wanderers on their march through the desert. The smoke rising from these scorched thorns, moreover, rose straight as a column, and shed a fragrance that perfumed all the world, so that the nations exclaimed: “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?” (cf. Song of Songs 3:6)

And, just to illustrate the winged guardian beasts I mentioned earlier:

[IMG ]http://www.specialtyinterests.net/ivory_solomon4.JPG[/IMG]

Here is an ivory plaque found at Megiddo, dating from ca. 11th century BC. Note the throne that the man on the left is sitting on.
http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/703/450pxahiram.jpg
Here is a detail from the sarcophagus of King Ahiram/Hiram/Ahirom (11th-10th century BC).

And the statue of King Idrimi of Alalakh (reigned 15th century BC), now in the British Museum.

Prof. William F. Albright (1891-1971) once wrote the following:

The God of Israel was often designated as “He who sitteth (on) the cherubim” (I Sam. 4:4, etc.). The conception underlying this designation is well illustrated by representations of a king seated on a throne supported on each side by cherubim, which have been found at Byblus [Byblos], Hamath, and Megiddo, all dating between 1200 and 800 B.C. One shows King Hiram of Byblus (period of the Judges) seated upon his cherub throne. Pottery incense altars found at Taanach and Megiddo are archaeological parallels to the wheeled lavers (“bases”) of Solomon’s temple, which were decorated with lions and cherubs, according to I Kings 7:36.

The primary function of the cherub in Israelite religious symbolism is illustrated by two biblical passages. A very ancient hymn, found twice in the Bible, has the words, “And He rode upon a cherub and did fly” (II Sam. 22:11, Ps. 18:11); the second is Ezek. 10:20. The conception of the deity as standing or as enthroned on an animal or hybrid creature was exceedingly common in the ancient Near East, but it was most common in Syria and Northern Mesopotamia between 2000 and 700 B.C. In Babylonia the figure of a deity is replaced in certain cases by a winged shrine and later by a thunderbolt. So in Israelite symbolism between 1300 and 900 B.C., the invisible Glory (Jehovah) was conceived as enthroned upon the golden cherubim or standing on a golden bull.

 

[donsnow]

Hi there
In 1 Kings 2:51 NAB, Adonijah “holds the horns of the alter”. The footnotes says these were “proturberances on each of the four corners” that “constituted a place of asylum for transgressors of the law”. Any ideas?
Thanks

Hi, to you, too -

I’m looking at the end of chapter 2 of I Kings in my NAB. It ends at verse 46. There is no verse 51.
Could you please give the correct scriptural reference?
Never mind, I have found it…it’s 1 King 2, 28.

Now, I would like to add, that sanctuaries were set up, in each tribe’s assigned area, with a stone altar in each one, after Joshua conquered Canaan. These altars were all alike, and did have a ‘horn’ on each corner. They were there, so that a killer could flee the kinsmen of whom he killed and get to a sanctuary. Once there, and holding the horns of the altar, he could not be slain in revenge.
I have just looked for this scripture that tells the above story. I can’t find it. If any of you know where it is found, please feel free to tell us.

Thank you,
Don

 

[John7]

This is a depiction of the altar of incense. I think Adonijah caught onto these horns (could be wrong) which is right in front of the veil which separates the Holy place from the Holy of Holies

 

[patrick457]

Hi there
In 1 Kings 2:51 NAB, Adonijah “holds the horns of the alter”. The footnotes says these were “proturberances on each of the four corners” that “constituted a place of asylum for transgressors of the law”. Any ideas?
Thanks

According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, under the heading Horns of the Altar:

Projections at each of the four corners of the altar of burnt offering (Ex. 27:2; 38:2; Ezk. 43:15) and of the altar of incense (Ex. 30:2f.; 37:25f.). In both cases they were to be of one piece with the altar. Blood was smeared on the horns of the altar of burnt offering for the consecration of Aaron and his sons (Ex. 29:12), in the sin offering for a ruler (Heb. nasi’), and on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:18). The horns of the altar of incense were smeared with blood in the case of sin offerings for the high priest and the congregation of Israel (Lev. 4:17,18). Fugitives seeking asylum would cling to the horns, thus putting themselves under the divine protection (cf. 1 K. 1:50-53; 2:28; an addition to the LXX [2:29] reads, “I fled to the Lord”), though not in the case of wilful murder (1 K. 2:31-34; cf. Ex. 21:14); the horns appear to epitomize the holiness of the altar. The cutting off of the horns in Am. 3:14 signifies the removal of Israel’s last refuge from God’s judgment.

By the way, I just saw a reconstruction of the Ark which does have the cherubim indeed looking like ‘horns’. All this because of this theory - which the creators share - that the Ark was actually a sort of ancient battery.

 

[patrick457]

I don’t know why the first picture of ark is depicted with horns …its error. But second picture is better with crown around top and mercy seat connected to cherubim.

That does remind me. Why are the two cherubim (depicted here as resembling traditional angels) often depicted as kneeling? There’s really nothing in the Bible which talks about it:

And you shall make a kapporet of pure gold: two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth; and you shall make two cherubim of gold, of beaten work you shall make them at the two ends of the kapporet; and make one cherub at the end on this side, and one cherub at the end on that; from the kapporet you shall make the cherubs on its two ends. And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, overshadowing the kapporet with their wings, and their faces a man to his brother - towards the kapporet the faces of the cherubim shall be.

-Exodus 25:17-20

It only talks about how the cherubim are to (1) be at the “two ends” of the kapporet, (2) spread their wings and screen it, (3) face each other, with faces towards the kapporet (incidentally, I know of a few which pieces of art has these standing).

 

[John7]

That does remind me. Why are the two cherubim (depicted here as resembling traditional angels) often depicted as kneeling? There’s really nothing in the Bible which talks about it:

And you shall make a kapporet of pure gold: two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth; and you shall make two cherubim of gold, of beaten work you shall make them at the two ends of the kapporet; and make one cherub at the end on this side, and one cherub at the end on that; from the kapporet you shall make the cherubs on its two ends. And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, overshadowing the kapporet with their wings, and their faces a man to his brother - towards the kapporet the faces of the cherubim shall be.

-Exodus 25:17-20

It only talks about how the cherubim are to (1) be at the “two ends” of the kapporet, (2) spread their wings and screen it, (3) face each other, with faces towards the kapporet (incidentally, I know of a few which pieces of art has these standing).

personally I don’t think they were kneeling, but that was the only picture I could find with ark without horns in a short period of time …I should have dug around a little more, I’ll see if I can find a better

 

[John7]

Here’s a version with the cherubim seeming to be sitting with heads bowed

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Never seen one like this before, with cherbim’s chests jutting out

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here’s one where they are standing off of mercy seat

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Here’s one where cherubim are standing on top of mercy seat

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the more I look at pictures the more it seems that the box-ark with the mercy on top is generally depicted the same, but the cherubims show a lot of variation

 

[patrick457]

personally I don’t think they were kneeling, but that was the only picture I could find with ark without horns in a short period of time …I should have dug around a little more, I’ll see if I can find a better

Don’t worry about that.

Personally, I don’t think the Ark (especially the mercy-seat) looks like how it is mostly depicted.

 

[patrick457]

Never seen one like this before, with cherbim’s chests jutting out

http://www.mishkanministries.org/images/ark02.jpg

Is it just me, or do the cherubim looked like human-headed serpents? Or birds?
I know of at least another one which shows cherubim looking rather similar to those:

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/4439/ark2.jpg

here’s one where they are standing off of mercy seat

http://fkf.net/ArkSketch.jpg

Ah, this is a drawing of the controversial Ron Wyatt Ark. As you know, Ron Wyatt claims to have discovered the Ark at the area around Gordon’s Calvary. He goes on about how Jesus’ blood must have traveled into the fissure and dropped onto the kapporet (this all rests on the assumption, of course, that Gordon’s Calvary is the Golgotha of the Gospels).

The position of the cherubs in Ron Wyatt’s Ark, at least to me, is interesting. The Bible mentions that the cherubim are to be ‘at the ends’ of the kapporet. Most depictions put the cherubim on top of this slab - but I’ve heard that the Hebrew does allow for the cherubim to be off to the sides, the ‘ends’. I’m considering this as one good option for the moment.

the more I look at pictures the more it seems that the box-ark with the mercy on top is generally depicted the same, but the cherubims show a lot of variation

Yep…the cherubim pose a problem for the artist because we do not know how the ancient writers envisioned them. Apparently, the form was so familiar that they never saw the need to record it specifically (Ezekiel stands out in that he gives a detailed description; IMO this may be because the cherubim he sees are not ‘his grandpa’s cherubs’ so to speak). The Ark is not that much of a problem because we have at least the basics.

 

[patrick457]

This is a follow-up to my previous post. Note that the following is strictly my interpretation; I don’t claim to have it completely right - one is free to disagree.

Personally, I imagine the two cherubim on the mercy-seat looking more like the winged sphinxes or griffins common in Near Eastern Art. As shown in post no. 6, these usually can be seen guarding something (such as thrones), just like the Biblical cherubim, who in Genesis guarded the Tree of Life. In such cultures they functioned as the protectors and representative/intercessors, guarding sacred precincts and objects from intruders and bringers of the petitions of man to the gods.

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/964/ark.jpg

http://studentpages.scad.edu/~dscott22/MainStoryBrd/image093.jpg

Now for my reconstruction. The idea presupposes that the cherubim at the sides, not on the top.
I think the two cherubs had their bodies facing forward but with their heads turned to the side, facing one another, similar to the second pic above - as opposed to having them fully facing each other as often depicted (cf. the first pic in this post). Then, either one wing of one cherub touches the other wing of the other cherub, or these wings are straight up, screening the sides of the slab (i.e. like the one in King Idrimi’s statue). Both these reconstructions would yield the back and/or the sidearms of a chair. Voila! We now have the representation of an empty throne.

For better visualization, here is King Tut’s throne. Just replace the lions with cherubim and turn their heads so that they face each other and the seat. Then imagine the footstool placed under this throne - this would be the Ark:

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/4496/3986118711ef0c0c4106.jpg

Another possibility I’m thinking is that the Ark is similar in form to Egyptian portable thrones, which had the shape of a box, is designed to serve the Pharaoh’s or a god’s processional chair - very much like the sedia gestatoria that the Popes once used, and is usually depicted as being flanked by some or all of the following: (1) a winged figure that enfolds the occupier within its wings, (2) a sphinx with wings tucked-in and flat against their backs (as is common in Egyptian art, with a few exceptions), and (3) a lion. Another parallel would be the barque-shaped shrines for the gods, but only in purpose, because the Ark’s form is admittedly different - the portable throne is much more closer of the two if we look at the descriptions of it:

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/1535/arkthroneegyptian.jpg

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5562/mvc140s.jpg

http://img1.photographersdirect.com/img/19994/wm/pd2205139.jpg

That’s it for this post; sorry if this has drifted the thread off-topic.

 

[patrick457]

In the Old Testament, the ark is described as having "horns’. What exactley are these. I saw a program on the sasquatch channel that showed something like cow horns that emitted rays to destroy Israels enemies. I immediately stopped watching this silliness,of course. Thanks for any (name removed by moderator)ut.

If the OP is still around:
By the way, what was the show about? And, did you ever catch the program’s title?

 

[PJM]

=patrick457;6126952]Hey there!
Actually, the Ark does NOT have any horns (the altar of incense does). What it does have is the so-called kapporet, aka ‘mercy seat’, this slab of gold on top of the Ark that seems to serve as its lid. Now, on the ends of this are figures of two cherubim, with wings overshadowing (or covering or screening or guarding; the Hebrew implies all of the above) the kapporet. Now we shouldn’t really think that they resembled our modern angels; it is thought by some that the cherubim were depicted here as looking very much like guardian beings of the Ancient Near East: some sort of human-animal or animal-animal hybrid (Ezekiel’s cherubim also were such), i.e. winged sphinxes - a lion’s/bull’s body, a human head, and an eagle’s wings - or griffins, for example.

As an aside, these creatures can usually be seen flanking thrones in ancient art, leading some to propose that the kapporet with the cherubim is a sort of representation of God’s throne, while the Ark represented the footstool.

Now, Jewish legend does record that when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, lightning/fire usually shot out from between the cherubim, killing off poisonous snakes and scorpions and burning off thorns that would get in the way. It is also described to rush at enemies by itself and burn them and even level mountains and such. Yep, Jewish folklore is one of the sources for Indiana Jones.

I never noticed the parts about horns. THANKS!

I looked up Exo. 29:12 in ***Haydock’s Catholic Commentary. Here is what it say’s.

"Ver. 12. “Horns. This was done in all the sacrifices of expiation.* After Aaron was ordained, he carried the blood into the sanctuary, for the sins of all. (Calmet)”**

Love and prayers,
Pat

 

[patrick457]

I never noticed the parts about horns. THANKS!

I looked up Exo. 29:12 in ***Haydock’s Catholic Commentary. Here is what it say’s.

"Ver. 12. “Horns. This was done in all the sacrifices of expiation.*** After Aaron was ordained, he carried the blood into the sanctuary, for the sins of all. (Calmet)”

Love and prayers,
Pat

Good commentary there!

 

[patrick457]

Now, I would like to add, that sanctuaries were set up, in each tribe’s assigned area, with a stone altar in each one, after Joshua conquered Canaan. These altars were all alike, and did have a ‘horn’ on each corner. They were there, so that a killer could flee the kinsmen of whom he killed and get to a sanctuary. Once there, and holding the horns of the altar, he could not be slain in revenge.
I have just looked for this scripture that tells the above story. I can’t find it. If any of you know where it is found, please feel free to tell us.

Thank you,
Don

I think you’re referring to the cities of refuge. These were designated towns in which the perpetrators of manslaughter could claim the right of asylum; outside of these cities, blood vengeance against such was allowed by law. Six such cities are named in the Bible: Golan, Ramoth, and Bosor on the east of the Jordan River; Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron on the west.

You’re correct that some scholars think that this practice may be related to the idea, common in many ancient cultures, that the holiness and inviolability of the gods were considered to extend to their religious sanctuaries and into all that resided within, whether criminals, debtors, escaped slaves, priests, ordinary people, or, in some cases, passing cattle. We could also see this in the examples of Adonijah and Joab, who both rushed into the Tabernacle, attempting to claim the Lord’s protection for themselves.

By the way, horned altars were actually not unique to the Israelites. On the contrary, it was actually common:

[IMG ]http://www.bibleplaces.com/images/Beersheba_four_horned_altar,_tbq110702.jpg[/IMG]

An altar at Beersheba, probably connected to a temple or cult center in the city. When Tel Be’er-Sheva was first excavated, archeologists discovered sandstone blocks in the walls of storehouses - most of the blocks used in the ancient city was made of limestone. They eventually took these blocks and reconstructed the altar, as shown here. It is thought that the altar was dismantled during the reforms of King Hezekiah in circa 8th century BC.
ADMIN: IMAGE REMOVED
An altar from Megiddo, dating 1000-900 BC and discovered in 1926 near a four-chambered gate and a casemate wall dated to the 10th century BC. This altar is too small for animal sacrifices and must have been used for sacrifices of wine, incense, or grain mixed with oil.


An altar from the temple complex at Tel Dan.

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/1504/ekronironiihornedaltars.jpg
Horned altars from Iron Age-II (10th-6th centuries BC) Ekron, modern-day Tel Miqne.

 

[jonpaultoo]

Thanks guys
The pictures are a great help. The program I was watching was on the history channel. I don’t remember the name, but it had something to do with the ark of the covenant. The silly depiction of the horns made me start wondering what were the horns really. I had read about the horns of the alter in the Bible, and was curious if maybe they really were like cow horns. I’
ve always pictured altars with flat tops, but the pictures clear that up. Oh, it is Fr. Mitch Pacwa who calls the history channel the sasquatch channel. They try to present a little bit of truth will a lot of speculation to create doubt, especially in regards to religion.
Paul

PS It was 1Kings 1:51. My mistake!