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.

Levitical Villages

“The Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, saying: “Command the children of Israel that they give the Levites cities to dwell in from the inheritance of their possession. … Each shall give some of its cities to the Levites.” - Leviticus 35:1-8

Before entering the land of Israel, Moses made sure to give the Levites (ministers) land from each of the other tribes.  Moses was told to make sure no tribal group was left out, and no tribe could begrudgingly not give some land to the Levites, the tribe of Priests.  God did this because He wanted to make sure in a very visual way His presence was spread to each of the tribes of Israel.

Some of the Levitical villages become important within the land of Israel.  The heritage of Abraham was felt in Hebron (Kirjath Arba).  Jacob’s name was honored in Shechem.  Many in the line of the High Priest, including Jeremiah, came from Anathoth.  The ark of the covenant was returned to Beth Shemesh.  By tradition John the Baptist was born in Beth HaKerem.

Six of the Levitical cities Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Golan, Ramoth, and Bosor were named as cities of refuge.  The Levites in these cities acted with mercy as protectors, and with skill as lawyers and judges to discern who was truly guilty and who should find freedom, forgiveness or grace.

The Levites, while they lived among the people were not to blend with the people.  They were to maintain and remember their purpose: to serve as priests for God.  These men were to serve in the Temple according to their time.  King David set up courses so each group of priests would know when to go to Jerusalem.  All Priests served during the three harvest festivals of Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot.  By rotation they served two additional weeks per year, making five weeks of service total.

The book Advent Journeys takes a look at how Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist serves in the Temple.  Much of the information in this book comes from the Jewish Mishnah, the oral tradition which was written down by the generation impacted by the destruction of the Temple.

As the Levitical cities served a purpose for the people of Israel, we, as people of faith are to serve a purpose in our communities and villages.  Moses said, “if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5-6; see also Deuteronomy 7:6, 26:19).  Peter repeats this for Christians in 1 Peter 2:9-10.