284. The details just quoted about the proclamation of the law, its holiness and power, are to be found in the following passages of the Word. Jehovah came down on Mount Sinai in fire, and the mountain then smoked and shook, there was thunder and lightning, an oppressive cloud and the sound of a trumpet: Exod. 19:16-18; Deut. 4:11; 5:22-26. The people prepared and sanctified themselves for three days before Jehovah came down: Exod. 19:10, 11, 15. The mountain was hedged about to prevent anyone approaching its foot and coming near and being killed; not even the priests approached, only Moses: Exod. 19:12, 13, 20-23; 24:1, 2. The law was proclaimed from Mount Sinai: Exod. 20:2-17; Deut. 5:6-21. The law was inscribed on two stone tablets, and written by the finger of God: Exod. 31:18; 32:15, 16; Deut. 9:10. When Moses carried the tablets down from the mountain the second time, his face shone so that he had to cover his face with a veil when talking with the people: Exod. 34:29-35. The tablets were laid up in the Ark: Exod. 25:16; 40:20; Deut. 10:5; 1 Kings 8:9. The mercy-seat was mounted upon the Ark, and over it were placed cherubim made of gold: Exod. 25:17-21. The Ark together with the mercy-seat and the cherubim was put into the Tabernacle, constituting its first and thus most inward part; the table overlaid with gold, upon which was the bread of the Presence, the incense-altar of gold, and the lamp-stand and lamps of gold, made up the external part of the Tabernacle; the ten curtains of fine linen, purple and scarlet were its outermost part: Exod. 25:1-end; 26:1-end; 40:17-28. The place, where the Ark was, was called the Holy of Holies: Exod. 26:33. The whole people of Israel camped around the Tabernacle in the order of their tribes, and set out in order after it: Num. 2:1-end. There was then a cloud over the Tabernacle by day and fire by night: Exod. 40:38; Num. 9:15-end; 14:14; Deut. 1:33. Jehovah spoke with Moses above the Ark, between the cherubim: Exod. 25:22; Num. 7:89. The Ark was called from the law in it 'Jehovah-is-here'; for Moses said when the Ark set out 'Arise, Jehovah', and when it rested 'Return, Jehovah': Num. 10:35, 36; and further 2 Sam. 6:2*; Ps. 132:7, 8. On account of the holiness of the law Aaron was not allowed to go inside the veil, except with sacrifices and incense: Lev. 16:2-14ff. By the presence of the Lord's power in the law contained in the Ark the waters of Jordan were parted, and the people crossed over on dry land, so long as it rested in the midst: Josh. 3:1-17; 4:5-20. When the Ark was carried round them, the walls of Jericho fell down: Josh. 6:1-20. Dagon, the god of the Philistines, fell to the ground in the presence of the Ark, and afterwards was found lying on the threshold of the shrine with his head torn off and the palms of his hands cut off: I Sam. chapter 5. The men of Bethshemesh were smitten because of the Ark to the number of many thousands: 1 Sam. chapters 5 and 6. Uzzah was killed by touching the Ark: 2 Sam. 6:7. The Ark was brought into Zion by David with sacrifices and jubilation: 2 Sam. 6:1-19. The Ark was brought by Solomon into the Temple at Jerusalem, where he made its inner shrine: 1 Kings 6: 19ff; 8:3-9.