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Ark of the CovenantAid to Bible Understanding
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up on Mount Moriah, where it was placed under the overshadowing wings of two large cherubs. It was the only piece of furniture from the original tabernacle that became part of Solomon’s temple.—1 Ki. 6:19; 8:1-11; 1 Chron. 22:19; 2 Chron. 5:2-10; 6:10, 11; see TEMPLE, Solomon’s; CHERUB No. 1.
The only post-Solomonic historical reference to the ark of the covenant, nearly nine hundred years after it was made, is at 2 Chronicles 35:3 where King Josiah, about 642 B.C.E., commanded that it be returned to the temple. How it had come to be removed is not stated. Josiah came to the throne following some very apostate kings, one of whom had put an image in the house of Jehovah, and possibly one of these wicked kings removed the Ark. (2 Chron. 33:1, 2, 7) On the other hand, Josiah sponsored extensive repairs of the temple, during which time the Ark might have been kept elsewhere for its own protection against damage. (2 Chron. 34:8–35:19) There is no mention of the Ark’s being taken to Babylon. The Ark is not enumerated among the temple articles carried off. Likewise, there is no mention of its being returned and placed in Zerubbabel’s rebuilt temple; neither was a replacement made for it. When and under what circumstances the Ark disappeared is unknown.—2 Ki. 25:13-17; 2 Chron. 36:18; Ezra 1:7-11; 7:12-19.
Jeremiah foretold a time when the ark of the covenant would be no more, but that it would not be missed and Jehovah’s worshipers would experience no hardship because of not having it. Instead ‘Jerusalem itself will be called the throne of Jehovah.’ (Jer. 3:16, 17) In the symbolic book of Revelation John says that “the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple sanctuary” in heaven, probably indicating the presence of Jehovah.—Rev. 11:19.
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ArmAid to Bible Understanding
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ARM
A limb of the human body, often used figuratively in the Bible to represent the ability to exert strength or power. The “arm” of Jehovah God is immeasurably powerful, able to do marvelous creative works. (Jer. 27:5; 32:17) By his “arm” Jehovah also rules (Isa. 40:10; Ezek. 20:33); saves those in distress (Ps. 44:3; Isa. 52:10); delivers his people (Ex. 6:6; Isa. 63:12; Acts 13:17); supports and cares for them (Deut. 33:27; Isa. 40:11; Hos. 11:3); judges (Isa. 51:5); and scatters his enemies. (Ps. 89:10; Luke 1:51) Breaking the arm represents shattering one’s might. (Job 38:15; Ps. 10:15; Jer. 48:25) Through Jesus Christ, clothed with authority and power, and acting as Judge and Executioner, Jehovah manifests His might, represented by His “arm.”—Isa. 53:1; John 12:37, 38.
The arm of flesh, representing human power, is described in the Bible as unreliable and failing the one trusting in it. Jehovah warns his people of the fallacy and disaster of trusting in the human arm. (2 Chron. 32:8; Jer. 17:5) He will break the arm of the wicked, which is described as resting oppressively on their victims.—Job 35:9; 38:15; Ps. 10:15.
In King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream image, the breast and arms of silver represent Medo-Persia, the kingdom succeeding Babylon, the head of gold, as world power.—Dan. 2:32, 39.
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ArmageddonAid to Bible Understanding
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ARMAGEDDON
See HAR–MAGEDON.
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ArmoniAid to Bible Understanding
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ARMONI
(Ar·moʹni) [pertaining to the palace].
One or two sons born to Saul by his concubine Rizpah. To expiate Saul’s bloodguilt, seven of his offspring, including Armoni, were given to the Gibeonites, who put them to death and exposed their corpses on the mountain. Rizpah kept watch, not letting fowl or beast molest them, until David had the bones buried.—2 Sam. 21:5-14.
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Arms, ArmorAid to Bible Understanding
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ARMS, ARMOR
Defensive and offensive arms are often mentioned in the Bible, though it was not intended to be a glossary of such equipment and hence does not provide extensive details on their manufacture and utilization. Some concept of armor and weaponry employed in Biblical days can be gleaned from 1 Samuel 17:4-7, which mentions equipment possessed by the Philistine giant Goliath at the time of his final encounter, when the shepherd lad David, with confidence in Jehovah, vanquished this mighty antagonist.
While the Hebrew Scriptures in particular tell repeatedly of the use of the literal sword, spear, shield and other arms, they also consistently emphasize the vital necessity and advantage of trusting in Jehovah. (Gen. 15:1; Ps. 76:1-3; 115:9-11; 119:114; 144:2) Reliance upon him was evident in David’s words to Goliath: “You are coming to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I am coming to you with the name of Jehovah of armies, the God of the battle lines of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day Jehovah will surrender you into my hand . . . And all this congregation will know that neither with sword nor with spear does Jehovah save, because to Jehovah belongs the battle.” (1 Sam. 17:45-47) Dependence upon Jehovah’s spirit and not military force is shown to be essential and effective. (Zech. 4:6) And in confirming His love for his figurative wife, Zion, Jehovah assured: “Any weapon whatever that will be formed against you will have no success.”—Isa. 54:17.
In the Christian Greek Scriptures literal armor and weapons receive little attention, whereas spiritual Israelites are admonished: “The night is well along; the day has drawn near. Let us therefore put off the works belonging to darkness and let us put on the weapons of the light.” (Rom. 13:12) The apostle Paul was girded with “the weapons of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,” and he told fellow members of spiritual Israel: “The weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful by God for overturning strongly entrenched things.”—2 Cor. 6:7; 10:4.
Paul also enables us to get a rather complete view of armor of ancient times in speaking of such spiritual equipment as the “large shield of faith” and the “helmet of salvation,” after urging Christians: “Put on the complete suit of armor from God that you may be able to stand firm against the machinations of the Devil.”—Eph. 6:11-17.
Especially significant are the inspired promises made by Jehovah God through the prophets Isaiah and Micah, which assure that in the “final part of the days” persons who are instructed by Jehovah will “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears.” (Isa. 2:2, 4; Mic. 4:3) Like righteously disposed inhabitants of ancient Israel who longed for such peace and placed their reliance upon Jehovah, members of spiritual Israel and their peace-loving companions depend upon Jehovah God, who is “a sun and a shield.” (Ps. 84:11) They know that under his kingdom the promise will be fulfilled: “He is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth. The bow he breaks apart and does cut the spear in pieces.” (Ps. 46:9) It was, therefore, fitting for the psalmist to declare: “It was not in my bow that I kept trusting and it was not my sword that was saving me. For you [Jehovah] saved us from our adversaries, and those intensely hating us you put to shame. In God we will offer praise all day long, and to time indefinite your name we shall laud.”—Ps. 44:6-8.
ARMOR-BEARER
A military attendant of a king or other leader who carried his armor and weapons, stood by him in danger and did his bidding. Foes wounded by a prominent warrior might be given the final deathblow by his armor-bearer. (1 Sam. 14:13) These attendants were selected from among valiant soldiers, and some were evidently very devoted to their commanders.—1 Sam. 14:6, 7; 31:5.
Mortally wounded Abimelech had the attendant bearing his weapons put him to death that it might
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