Coverings of the Ark of the Covenant
When the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall go in, and his sons, and they shall take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the testimony with it, and shall put thereon a covering of sealskin, and shall spread over it a cloth all of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof” (Numbers 4:5,6 ASV).
Among the many details given in the Bible that specify the design of the Tabernacle are the instructions for moving from one campsite to another. These are recorded in Numbers chapter 4. All of these are fascinating in their rich detail and there are many antitypical lessons associated with them.
Of particular interest is the process of preparing the Ark of the Covenant for the move. The Ark of the Covenant, as the holiest and most important object in Israel, is the first item given attention. Aaron and his sons were charged with this task. This is described in our opening text, above..
The first action was to take down the veil between the Holy and the Most Holy in the Tabernacle. The height of the veil, and the Tabernacle itself, was 10 cubits, or about 15 feet. So they would have required a ladder, or something similar, to take it down. The veil was then laid over the Ark of the Covenant and thus became its first covering.
Next, a cover of sealskin, mistranslated “badgers’ skin” in the common version, was laid over the vail.1 Finally, a cloth of blue became the outmost covering. The staves were placed in the Ark and then it was taken out of the Tabernacle for transport to the next location of Israel’s wilderness wanderings.
The placement and order of these three coverings is very significant and reinforces other important teaching in scripture.
The Ark of the Covenant itself is rich in antitypical detail. It normally resided in the Most Holy. The Most Holy represents the perfection of the Divine Condition, the hope of the church. This is in contrast to the Holy which represents the incomplete condition of the church during its trial and experience in the flesh. Put another way, the Holy represents the spirit-begotten condition while the Most Holy represents the spirit-born condition. Consequently, the Ark of the Covenant represents the Glorified Christ, Jesus and his church, having attained the Divine Nature.
THE FIRST COVERING
The veil, which was hung between the Holy and the Most Holy, represents the sacrificial death of the flesh. In the book of Hebrews this veil is actually mentioned three times by the Apostle Paul and reinforces this understanding.
The Ark of the Covenant, with Blue Outer Covering
The first mention is in Hebrews 6:9, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil” (ASV). Paul here demonstrates that the Most Holy compartment typifies our hope of glory and is an anchor for us. We will enter into glory by going from the Holy condition past this veil into the Most Holy.
The second mention of the veil is found in Hebrews 9:3, “And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies” (ASV). Here Paul explains that the Most Holy is beyond the second veil of the Tabernacle.
The last occurrence is found in Hebrews 10:19,20, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh” (ASV). In this passage Paul teaches that Jesus’ faithful disciples enter into the antitypical Most Holy by his blood. He clarifies this further by showing that it was by the sacrificial death of his “flesh” which is represented by the second veil.
THE SECOND COVERING
After the vail was placed over the Ark of the Covenant, a cloth of sealskin was laid on top of it. Sealskins were used as outmost coverings in several places connected with the Tabernacle. The largest of these was the outermost layer of the Tabernacle itself. The practical value of this was the fact that sealskin is waterproof and makes an excellent protective layer.
It is worthy of note that sealskin, from an aquatic animal, seems out of place in the wilderness where Israel wandered. But this too is significant. These sealskins were undoubtedly obtained from the Red Sea which Israel crossed at the start of their wilderness journey.
Sealskin appears to be a picture of how Jesus and the church are viewed by the world. Someone looking at the Tabernacle from the outside would see only a black, drab looking tent. They would not see the precious and beautiful things within. Likewise, when the world looks at a Christian, they cannot see the precious and beautiful character that God is developing within that individual.
This in how Jesus was viewed by many. When he first began to teach, detractors saw only the outside. Mark 6:2,3, “And when the Sabbath was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, ‘Whence hath this man these things?’ and, ‘What is the wisdom that is given unto this man, and what mean such mighty works wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they were offended in him.”
They saw only “the carpenter.” How could a carpenter say such things?
There is a prophecy in Isaiah that shows the same kind of cold reception that Jesus would receive during his ministry. “Who hath believed our message? And to whom hath the arm of Jehovah been revealed? For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised; and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:1-3, ASV).
Note the description that “he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” This negative perspective is represented by the unattractive sealskin.
That sealskin seems to be out-of-place in a wilderness reflects the fact that sincere Christians walking in this world are also out of place. They live by different and higher standards and do not conform to this world. Their eventual home will be in heaven.
Model of the Ark of the Covenant
As a layer on the Ark of the Covenant, it might be expected to be the outermost covering, as it is in every other usage in the Tabernacle. But curiously it is not. There is a third covering.
THE THIRD COVERING
The final covering over the Ark of the Covenant was a cloth of blue. To understand its antitypical meaning we have to review all three colors that are used extensively throughout the Tabernacle: scarlet, purple, and blue. The meaning of these colors is intuitive and consistent throughout scripture.
- Scarlet — The color of blood, this represents sacrificial death.
- Purple — The color of Royalty.
- Blue — Represents faithfulness. It is the color the sky takes in response to the light of the sun. The best result of the light of God’s word in one’s life is faithfulness. There are two texts which associate faithfulness with the skies:
“Thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, is in the heavens; Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the skies” (Psalms 36:5 ASV). “For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever; Thy faithfulness wilt thou establish in the very heavens” (Psalms 89:2 ASV).
These colors, blue, scarlet, and purple, can be seen in a text very familiar to Christians, Revelation 2:10. “Be thou faithful (blue) unto death (scarlet), and I will give thee the crown (purple) of life.” 2
So this last covering represents the faithfulness of the glorified Christ.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
The sequence of these three coverings is significant. Remembering that the Ark represents the glorified Christ dwelling in a Most Holy condition, we look for meaning after the church has been resurrected.
Taking down the vail, removing it from between the Holy and the Most Holy, represents the completion and end of the high calling. Using the vail to then cover the ark reflects the fact that the church has attained her hope beyond her temporary condition in the Holy.
The sealskin laid on top of the vail represents a very important doctrine that has been obscured in the minds of most Christians. This doctrine is taught by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:50: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”
Our hope is for a spiritual resurrection, a resurrection to the divine nature with immortal and incorruptible spiritual bodies. This picture of the sealskin shows that the flesh does not go beyond the veil. It did not touch the Ark of the Covenant, remaining separated from it by the veil. The flesh does not enter into glory — it cannot inherit the kingdom!
But why show this at all? If it does not enter into the picture of glory, why is it there? The answer is shown by the final covering of blue.
Spiritual beings are invisible to human eyes except when they choose to materialize a form to communicate with men. So in the Kingdom, the church will not be seen! Friends and family will note their absence. But there will be an acknowledgement of their faith. All will know that these faithful men and women, who gave their lives for the Gospel, have entered into heaven and have become the Kings and Priests of the Kingdom.
PSALM 87
Psalm 87 seems to describe this very thing.
Verse 2, “Jehovah loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.” Zion is a picture of both spiritual Israel and fleshly Israel, depending upon the context. In this case, the contrast with the “dwellings of Jacob” shows that spiritual Israel is intended.
Verse 3, “Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.” In scripture spiritual Israel is mentioned several times as a city. One clear and compelling example is found in Revelation 21:2, “And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.”
The bride adorned for her husband can be none other than the church. Thus we have the interpretation of the holy city — New Jerusalem — representing the church.
The “Glorious things” spoken of this glorified city are spoken by both God and the peoples of the earth. The Hebrew word “Selah” is an annotation for the music of the Psalm. It means “to pause.” In our case, we pause to reflect upon its meaning.
Verse 4, “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon as among them that know me: Behold, Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia: This one was born there.” God starts speaking of the glorious things by declaring to several nations “This one was born there.” Who was born where? The next verse expands.
Verse 5, “Yea, of Zion it shall be said, ‘This one and that one was born in her; And the Most High himself will establish her.’ “ Being “Born in Zion” describes the birth of spiritual Israel to the divine nature. The people of the earth will then recognize that their Kings and Priests are on the divine plane.
New Jerusalem, descended from above
Verse 6, “Jehovah will count, when he writeth up the peoples, this one was born there. Selah.” The list of overcoming church members, the number of which is 144,000, will be published. The world will know who their rulers are. And it is likely that there will be biographies of each of these individuals so that the people of the earth will know of their sacrifice and faithfulness. The Psalmist ends with another “Selah,” a directive to pause and consider these wonderful words.
Bringing this back to the coverings of the ark, we see that the outermost cloth of blue, the only covering seen by everyone in Ancient Israel, represents the fact that mankind will see and acknowledge the faith of the church. But they will not see the flesh. The flesh will be gone, hidden under the cloth of blue!
APPLICATION
We praise God that two simple verses, describing how the Ark of the Covenant was moved, contain such a rich trove of truths. How efficient God is! And how satisfying it is to see the distinction between fleshly and spirit nature depicted in this beautiful type.
An encouraging thought can be gleaned from all of this. Do your utmost to live a faithful life, day-by-day. Let your light shine in the midst of friends and family, many of whom may have no clue about your calling. Let your good character testify to the love and compassion of God. In due time, they will remember your diligent faithfulness and will themselves praise God for it. Selah!
— Br. David Stein
(1) Or Manatee skins. See “Tabernacle Coverings of Sea-cows,” Beauties of the Truth, February, 2010.
(2) It is interesting that the great harlot of Revelation 17 is described with purple and scarlet. She is a queen (purple) and has martyred the saints (scarlet). But she has no blue. Of course she would not— she is a great example of unfaithfulness. How appropriate that blue is lacking!