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Thursday, June 15, 2006

What was in the ark? Contradiction?

Not Noah's ark, but the ark of the covenant, that is.

Can anyone help me here?

Here's what the Old Testament says was in the ark: 1 Kings 8:9 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone that Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. (ESV)

Here's what the New Testament says was in it: Hebrews 9:4 . . . having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. (ESV)

A. R. Faussett wrote this:

In 1Ki 8:9 2Ch 5:10 , it is said there was nothing in the ark of Solomon's temple save the two stone tables of the law put in by Moses. But the expression that there was nothing THEN therein save the two tables, leaves the inference to be drawn that formerly there were the other things mentioned by the Rabbis and by Paul here, the pot of manna (the memorial of God's providential care of Israel) and the rod of Aaron, the memorial of the lawful priesthood . . .

I suppose he was right. Any thoughts?

Thanks for reading.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It does seem like timing is everything. Just as perspective is in other seeming Biblical contradictions (sermon on the mount or on the plains, for example). But I'm no expert...that's just a reaction to text provided above.

Martin LaBar said...

Well, that's got at least something to do with it, maybe everything.

Thanks.