'Ark'

Alternative Accounts of the Ark of the Covenant

© Brian Allan 2004

Word count: 3,266

*Authors note*: Perhaps not surprisingly, much although not all of what follows comes from uncritical, fundamentalist Judeo/Christian sources and the reader should bear this in mind. I wish to make it clear from the outset that I do not set out judge or criticise these accounts or the integrity of those who make them, but only to present them as objectively as I can, any criticism or perceived shortcomings must come from the reader.

The cannon of Christian scripture and the apocryphal works that accompany it contain many items and artefacts that appear to be infused with strange and unearthly powers, everything from fragments of the cross upon which Christ was crucified, the Rod of Aaron, saintly relics, the Holy Grail and the Ark of the Covenant. While it is difficult to take one particular item in isolation, it is arguable that next to the Holy Grail, the best known object is the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark is credited with a unique power and place in biblical history based on various scriptural quotations that God himself actually spoke from a cloud above the mercy seat atop the Ark, (Lev. 16:2, Num. 7:89 and Ex. 25:22). Therefore, in addition to its purpose as a repository for the Ten Commandments it also apparently served as a spiritual communications device similar to that which Noah used on his Ark. It is due this alleged function that many believe it is the single most important biblical artefact. However, the purpose of this article is not to debate the validity or otherwise of scripture, nor categorise the importance or otherwise of items described there. Rather, it is intended to examine in some detail the function and possible fate of the artefact primarily designed as the receptacle for the two stone tablets bearing the 'Ten Commandments', although it is also recorded that 'Aaron's Rod' was placed there. The claims made for this ornate box of gold and wood are legion, some bordering on the fantastic, however the biblical evidence passed down to us suggests that this object genuinely did possess some remarkable attributes.

According to the bible, (Exodus 25; 17-22 and 37: 1-9), the ark itself was made on the specific instructions of God to the following measurements: 2 1/2 cubits long, 1 1/2 cubits wide and 1 1/2 high and fashioned of wood and metal, it this case durable shittim (acacia) wood and gold. The removable lid of the Ark (called the mercy seat) was surmounted by two kneeling cherubim with wings outstretched towards one another all made of solid gold and the box section was constructed of acacia covered with gold sheets. The box section was also fitted with a ring at each corner so that poles could be inserted to carry it. Along with the construction details came a stern warning that on pain of death, the Ark should not be touched, nor even looked into by anyone not ordained to do so.

The appearance of the Ark as we have come to accept it is based purely on descriptions and observations that have appeared in scripture because there are no contemporary drawings or representation of the object. This is evidently because the object was held so sacred, or in this instance perhaps 'secret' would be a better description, and more importantly was an object directly commissioned and empowered by God himself, that any attempt to depict such a device was not within the gift of mere human beings.

The power it contained would strike the unwary or impious dead, in other words it was fearsome, uncanny, spiritual power, the power of a vengeful God, the Yahweh of the Old Testament. Likewise it is no surprise that the two angelic entities surmounting the Ark are Cherubim, since they rank second only to the mighty Seraphim in the hierarchy of unearthly, Angelic beings. It should be noted that it was the Seraphim and Cherubim who were used to enforce the will of Yahweh upon the Nephilim, the allegedly mutant offspring of Luciferian fallen angels and human women.

Following the construction of the Ark, it was kept under the protection of the Israelites and travelled with them in its own tabernacle for five hundred years before eventually arriving at the temple of Solomon where it remained for a further four hundred years hidden away in the holy of holies. This was a totally square, dark room located right at the rear of the temple that was entered only once a year by the high priest at feast of Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). It is curious that King Solomon should be held as such an arbiter of humanity and justice when at the same time he was skilled and dedicated magician and practising demonologist who allegedly employed forty demons in the construction of his temple. Magic and demonology although somehow always on the periphery of religion are still officially anathema to both traditional Judaism and Christianity.

While this gives us some idea of the purpose and construction of the Ark, following the destruction of Solomon's temple what became of it? It has been credited with being in many places including the mystical Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh in Scotland. However, the respected writer and researcher Graham Hancock suggests in his book, 'The Sign and the Seal' that after a journey of many years the Ark finally found safe refuge in Ethiopia where it currently resides in the custody of a cult of Falasha Jews

As with its sojourn in Jerusalem it is also kept permanently hidden from view and is tended solely by one man who is bonded to his duty until death. Following tradition it is paraded before the faithful only once per year and even then it is kept secreted under an elaborately embroidered cloth covering. However, although Hancock is very persuasive, there are others who insist that the Ark never left what we now call the Middle East.

The Discovery of the Ark

One such is the late Ron Wyatt, founder of Wyatt Archaeological Research (WAR), who claimed to have not only seen the lost ark, but made a videotape of it and incredibly, obtained a sample of what he claims is Christ's blood from the cave in which he saw the Ark. Regrettably, although there are many people ready to accept his word, much of what Wyatt says is entirely hearsay with not a shred of evidence to substantiate it. While he has amassed some artefacts during his researches in the area he never managed to produce any hard evidence that he had found this most elusive of objects. However, whether or not his claims are true, they are worth examining.

Wyatt insists that his initial motivation to excavate for the Ark in one particular area came in the form of what can only be described as a revelation from God. According to his account, in 1982 he was walking close to a quarry known as 'The Calvary Escarpment' in the company of a local guide, when quite involuntarily his left hand pointed to an area of the quarry being used as a rubbish tip. He heard himself say, 'That is Jeremiah's grotto and the Ark of the Covenant is there'. Even more bizarrely, the guide who accompanied him said, 'That's wonderful, we want you to excavate and we'll furnish your permits, put you up in a place to stay and even furnish your meals'. A strange set of circumstances indeed, but if Wyatt is to be believed, even stranger was to follow. As far as corroborated facts as concerned, it should be remembered that in 1981, archaeologists excavating close by the legendary 'Wailing Wall' of Jerusalem, (the remaining Western Wall of Solomon's temple) uncovered evidence of an additional section of the wall running beneath modern buildings. They continued with their excavations and according to some sources, began an additional, clandestine excavation within the tunnel in search of the Ark. This entire operation was close to one of the most sacred sites in Islam, the Dome of the Rock, and when the local Muslim faithful discovered what was happening, considerable unrest broke out and the project was abandoned. The site of the excavation is still there and can still be accessed by appointment, but all further archaeological work has been abandoned to avoid any further conflict and the tunnel is regularly inspected to ensure no further work is undertaken

Wyatt clams that his first sighting of the Ark was in 1982 when, after some months of excavation, in Zedekiah's cave (actually a quarry), he squeezed into a partially filled cave and saw a stone box with its lid slightly open. He shone his torch into the darkness of the box and to his amazement he saw the object of his quest, The Sacred Ark. AT the time there was little he could do, but on a subsequent visit he found that the cave had been mysteriously completely cleared and the Ark had been removed from the box. The Ark and other objects had been laid out on the cave floor in the same relative positions as if they were in the Holy of Holies in the Temple and the scene was lit by a mysterious glow that emanated from the cave.

This later turned out to be from the Ark itself and is called the 'Shekinah Glory' created by the actual presence of God. According to Mr Wyatt there was an angel in the cave guarding the Ark who permitted him to see it. He went on to tell how there were a total of four angelic entities guarding the ark and they permitted him to view the contents which comprised; the two stone tablets, a sword, an ephod (the outer garment of a high priest) and four scrolls of the Books of Moses. Wyatt also made a videotape of his work, but did not think it appropriate to broadcast it left it in the cave. He felt that the Ark and its contents would be revealed to the world at a time of Gods choosing. Wyatt also calculated that the crucifixion of Christ took place on the escarpment directly above the Ark and the Christ's blood had percolated down through a crack in the roof and fallen upon the Ark. However although he did notice what appeared to be dried blood on the mercy seat he did not touch it and took instead samples of from a crack in the roof of the cave, directly above the Ark and had the samples analysed. It is interesting to note that in Jerusalem at the traditional site of the crucifixion (with is inside a church along with the supposed tomb of Christ) that the rock where the cross was inserted is cracked down to a depth of several meters. It is possible to descend a flight of stairs and see the crack through a set of windows, it this respect Wyatt's account matches.

On his return to the USA Wyatt had the blood analysed with the following result; the sample was of male human blood but with only 24 chromosomes in the white blood cells. The normal human being has 46 chromosomes, therefore this indicted that along with the Y chromosome it had come from a non-human source, and in Wyatt's view this had to be from God Himself. Not surprisingly these claims were met with utter scepticism and disbelief and would obviously require to be fully corroborated by further tests. However, since it is unlikely that Wyatt's work will be repeated and the blood samples are currently 'unavailable', it is doubtful that any further analysis will be carried out. This leaves us with speculation and conjecture, neither of which will supply the necessary information, but this is par for the course when dealing with stories like these.

The Ark as a Weapon

Yet another purpose claimed for the Ark is as a weapon, or if not itself a weapon then a container for one, which leads to speculation regarding the nature of the Ten Commandments and in particular the stones upon which they were written. Although we find various descriptions of the fate befalling those unwise enough to expose themselves to the Ark there are no valid scriptural reasons for this other than references to the power of the Lord. From a modern perspective it is more likely that the Ark or its contents were directly responsible for the deaths because the ark carried a powerful electrical charge, or the contents were either highly radioactive or toxic, or both. Based on descriptions of the construction of the Ark, it is possible that it acted as capacitor with the wooden core of box section serving as the dielectric and the gold sheathing active as the positive and negative plates and given the physical size of the Ark it could probably store a considerable charge.

Before going any further it is probably as well to comment on the film, 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', and make a few points. While the film is obviously a work of fiction, there is no doubt that many parties were and are extremely interested in obtaining religious artefacts like the Sacred Ark. It is certain that the Nazi party was keen to have possession of it and items like it. It is a matter of history that Adolph Hitler was convinced of the latent power residing in the Spear of Longinus, also known as the Spear of Destiny, and wanted to use it to guarantee his ultimate vision of an Aryan world.

Quite how this was supposed to happen is not clear, but presumably he intended to devise some form of ritual to access any spiritual power residing within the spear. This, incidentally, raises one extremely pertinent question, could the power resident within the spear be hijacked for 'evil' purposes as opposed to 'good'?

If so it raises a further series of questions regarding the nature and use of spiritual power, does it for example, exist as a purely passive reservoir of energy to be used, irrespective of intent, by whoever can tap into it? While this may have been his intent, it has recently been established by a respected British metallurgist, Prof Robert Feather, that the spearhead cannot be the original spear of destiny, it is not old enough and is most probably medieval. Feather also examined the spearhead for signs of organic material, like blood, but found none. However there is an iron nail comprising part of the artefact that is consistent is style with nails dating from the Roman period, so just possibly it might be, as claimed, a nail from the true cross. The power alleged to be in the Ark of the Covenant however, is of an entirely different magnitude, but whether it contains the avenging 'wispy angels' shown in the film is a matter for pure speculation. The only clues regarding the destructive capabilities of the Ark come from scripture and are consistent with an electrical device of some sort, although whether this is a passive device charging itself with static electricity, or an active, multi-cell battery, is, once again, a matter of conjecture. If the Ark was designed to carry highly secret and sensitive information then it would be sensible and even desirable that it should be capable of protecting both itself and its contents. On the other hand it may have been pure hype based on propaganda, a form of psychological warfare designed to frighten off the timid, faithful and fearful.

If the defensive mechanism was electrical in nature but not due to a build up of static electricity then is it feasible that it might have used batteries of some kind.

Certainly the 'Baghdad Battery', the curious artifact in the Baghdad museum that has the capability of being used as a battery is certainly contemporary as far as age is concerned, but the output from this device is tiny. Laboratory test carried out on exact copies of the battery using electrolytes of vinegar, copper sulfate and fresh grape juice respectively, managed to produce just less than one volt, (0.78 v). In addition there are contemporary copper plates showing signs of having been electroplated with silver. However, if battery technology was available, then it is not inconceivable that many of these devices were wired in series to produce a much greater charge.

It is possible that when Moses was given the specifications to construct the Ark, the additional information to construct the defensive mechanism came with it. Whatever the source and nature of the information there is ample evidence to suggest that the device worked very well although it appears to have been more deadly to the Israelites than their adversaries, almost to the point where they were terrified of it.

The Ark as a Communication Device

If the Ark used an electrical power source as a defence mechanism and if God communicated to Moses using the Ark, then it is probable that the existing power source activated the transceiver. As we have already seen, a glowing cloud formed between the cherubim and the voice of God was heard. Once again we have a situation where some form of energy was required to drive the device and enable communication to take place. Depending on what the 'Voice of God' actually was and if the energy used was electricity, is it possible that an arc sparked between the forward spread wings of the cherubim and acted as 'spark gap transmitter,' functioning rather like a primitive variety of Morse code? Was the cloud above the mercy seat designed to make the space between the cherubim more conductive? Since all we are told is that there was a glowing cloud and God spoke from it, the cloud would certainly glow if subjected to high voltage discharges

Conclusion

It is perhaps symptomatic of the rationalist society in which we now live that many biblical icons, including this one, are more understandable in scientific terms rather than spiritual ones. As we have seen, the Ark is credited with a variety of abilities, self-defence, offence, and communications and all most likely powered by electricity in some form. One of the major hindrances to understanding what was happening is the lack of technical ability to describe what was witnessed when the Ark was actually functioning. It is also not too clear whether the function of the Ark was spurious or deliberate, in other words who was actually in control of it and could it be switched off? These are questions with no easy answer and will remain so until the Ark is found. Perhaps Ron Wyatt's claims are genuine and he did find the ark and it will eventually be disinterred from its hiding place in Israel. On the other hand is it really under continuous guard in a dedicated church in Ethiopia, or is it irretrievably lost for all time?

Perhaps it is better that it is never found and continues to fascinate and mystify the faithful and truth seekers, for if it was ever found and put on display the mystery would evaporate and with it much of the mystique surrounding it. Would the power still the present or would it have vanished along with the legends? On balance it is probably better that we never find out.

Sources

	'The Sign and the Seal' by Graham Hancock, pub, William Heinemann Ltd
	'The Ark of the Covenant' by Grierson and Munro-Hay, pub, Weidenfeld & Nicholson
	'Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark', by Lawrence Gardner, pub, Element