Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Ark

ARK, a chest or coffer for the safe-keeping of any valuable thing; a depository. The large floating vessel in which Noah and his family were preserved during the deluge.

The Ark of the Covenant, in the synagogue of the Jews, was the chest or vessel in which the tables of the law were preserved. This was a small chest or coffer, three feet nine inches in length, two feet three inches in breadth and the same in height, in which were contained the various sacred articles. It was made of shittim wood, overlaid within and without with gold and was covered with the mercy seat, called also the propitiatory, as the Septuagint expresses it, that is, the lid or cover of propitiation; because, in the typical language of Scripture, those sins which are forgiven are said to be covered.