Exodus 39:36

Key Reflection

In Exodus 39:36, the description "the ark of the covenant with its poles, the mercy seat" highlights key elements of the most holy place in the tabernacle. The ark itself was a sacred chest containing the stone tablets of the Law and symbolic of God’s presence among His people. The inclusion of the mercy seat atop the ark signifies the atoning work necessary for God to meet with humanity, reflecting the theological concept of God's grace and forgiveness through the means of sacrificial offerings.