The Temple’s Missing Item

The priests performed many tasks in the Temple. We attempt to relate these tasks as Zechariah might have perceived them in our book Advent Journeys. Zechariah served many roles during his twenty-five years of active service before retirement. In all, and even with even with the politics and toil which comes with a heavy work cycle, Zechariah never lost his zeal.

Looking int the Tower of David Museum

With all of its magnificence (see the previous two blog posts) and all of its organization, the Temple of Zechariah lacked one thing. The most important piece of furniture, the throne of God, the box which was called the Ark of the Covenant, was missing. This box which held Israel’s treasures: the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod and a jar of manna, was sacred and the place where in history God had resided. The Ark of the Covenant had gone before Israel in battle and it was the first item brought to Jerusalem for Solomon’s Temple.

Jerusalem from the Ramparts Walk

The Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy Seat upon it was the place where the High Priest was to place the blood from Israel’s atonement offering each Yom Kippur. But in the days of Zechariah it was missing, and every priest was aware of this fact. One priest wrote: “After the Ark was taken away a stone remained there from the time of the early Prophets,” and it was called ‘Shetiyah’. It was higher than the ground by three fingerbreadths.”

Temple Mount from Ramparts Walk

Another priest said: “Once when a priest was occupied he saw a block of pavement that was different from the rest. He went and told it to his fellow, but before he could make an end of the matter his life departed. So they knew assuredly that there the Ark lay hidden.”

Jerusalem from Tabtznik Park

The Holy of Holies remained important even without the Ark of the Covenant. The High Priest continued to go in every year on the Day of Atonement. He would sprinkle the blood on the place where the Ark of the Covenant had been placed before. To a priest of a lower level, like Zechariah, the Altar of Incense was the closest he could come to the Holy of Holies. It was at this place that the Angel met him and announced that he and Elizabeth would have a son.