The idea
The Ark's history is a history of God's presence in battle and procession. With the Ark in their midst Israel took Jericho; without it they were defeated (Numbers 14). It moved from sanctuary to sanctuary, was captured by the Philistines until a plague of tumours — 'hemorrhoids' in the New American Bible — persuaded them to send it back, and was then moved by David's men on an ox-cart instead of by its poles, 'a plan which proves fatal for a man named Uzzah.' Left three months with Obed-edom, it blessed his house, so David resumed the procession the right way, carried by its poles with sacrifice, dancing 'with all his might' and 'with shouting, and with the sound of the horn.'
Key verses
- Joshua 6:6 — the Ark carried around Jericho.
- 2 Samuel 6:6 — Uzzah struck down — the Ark on a cart.
- 2 Samuel 6:12 — Obed-edom blessed; David brings the Ark up 'with gladness.'
- 2 Samuel 6:15 — dancing and shouting before the Ark.
The connection
| Old Testament root | New Testament fulfilment | |
|---|---|---|
| David's procession: journey, dread, leaping, three months, blessing | → | Mary's Visitation: journey, Elizabeth's awe, John's leap, three months, blessing |
The whole 2 Samuel 6 narrative, not only its four famous parallels, is the backdrop of Luke 1. The Ark's lethal holiness, its power to bless a house, and the joy that met it all reappear when Mary comes to Elizabeth.