The Significance of Looking into the Ark in Hebrews

The Ark of the Covenant, often referred to simply as "the Ark," was the most sacred object in ancient Israelite worship, symbolizing God's presence among His people ^{[9, 8]}. It was a box made of acacia wood, entirely covered with gold, and surrounded by a crown of gold ^{[4, 9]}. Within it were placed the tables of the testimony, also known as the Ten Commandments ^[4]. The Ark was housed in the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctuary of the tabernacle and later the temple ^[4].

The significance of "looking into the Ark" is primarily understood through the narrative in 1 Samuel 6, where the men of Beth-shemesh suffered divine judgment for doing so. After the Philistines captured the Ark and later returned it, it arrived in Beth-shemesh ^{[1, 2]}. The people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest when they saw the Ark and rejoiced ^{[1, 5]}. However, their joy turned to tragedy when many of them were struck down by God. The King James Version states, "And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men" [1 Samuel 6:19 KJV]. Other translations indicate a smaller number, "seventy men" ^[7].

The sin of the Beth-shemites was their irreverence and lack of respect for God's holiness ^[7]. The Ark was not to be looked into, nor was it to be touched directly by unauthorized persons ^[7]. Numbers 4:15 and 2 Samuel 6:6-8 prohibit physical contact with the Ark, and Numbers 4:20 specifically forbids looking inside it ^[7]. Matthew Henry notes that while Israelites had great veneration for the Ark, they were also aware that it was veiled, and even the high priest could only view it once a year, through a cloud of incense ^[6]. This prohibition was designed to emphasize the profound holiness of God and the strict boundaries He set for human interaction with His sacred presence ^{[6, 7]}.

The Ark's contents and construction further underscore its sacred nature. Besides the tablets of the law, the pot of manna and Aaron's rod were also laid up before it, though Hebrews 9:4 states they were in the Ark ^[4]. The mercy seat, where God promised to meet with Moses and speak from above the cherubim, rested upon the Ark ^{[4, 9]}. This made the Ark the focal point of God's revelatory and redemptive presence ^[9].

The incident at Beth-shemesh serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of treating sacred things casually. The Israelites, at times, treated the Ark as a charm or a guarantee of victory in battle, rather than a symbol of God's holy presence that demanded reverence ^[11]. For example, when they brought the Ark into battle against the Philistines, they were defeated, leading the elders to question why God had allowed them to be smitten ^{[10, 3]}. This demonstrated a misunderstanding of the Ark's true purpose and the nature of God's covenant ^[11]. The judgment on the Beth-shemites reinforced that God's holiness was not to be trifled with, even by those who might have been curious or celebratory ^{[6, 7]}.

Sources

I Samuel “I Samuel 6:13 (Webster) — And [they of] Beth-shemesh [were] reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see [it].”
King James Version “[KJV] 1 Kings 6:13 — And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 11, section 1: . Herein Is Declared What Befell The Sons Of Eli, The Ark, And The People And How Eli Himself Died Miserably. 1. About this time it was that the Philistines made war against the Israelites, and pitched their camp at the city Aphek. Now when the Israelites had expected them a little while, the very next day they joined battle, and the Philistines were conquerors, and slew above four thousand of the Hebrews, and pursued the rest of their multitude to their camp. 2. So the Hebrews being afraid of the worst, sent to the senate, and ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ark of the Covenant — Dimensions, &c of -- Ex 25:10; 37:1. Entirely covered with gold -- Ex 25:11; 37:2. Surrounded with a crown of gold -- Ex 25:11. Furnished with rings and staves -- Ex 25:12-15; 37:3-5. Tables of testimony alone placed in -- Ex 25:16,21; 1Ki 8:9,21; 2Ch 5:10; Heb 9:4. Mercy-seat laid upon -- Ex 25:21; 26:34. Placed in the Holy of Holies -- Ex 26:33; 40:21; Heb 9:3,4. The pot of manna and Aaron's rod laid up before -- Heb 9:4; Ex 16:33,34; Nu 17:10. A copy of the law laid in the side of -- De 31:26. Anointed with sacred oil -- Ex 30:26. Covered wit”
1 Samuel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Samuel 6:13: And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley,.... Which began at Pentecost, in the month Sivan, about our May; so that there were many people in the fields, who were eyewitnesses of this wonderful event: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it; for though the ark while in the tabernacle was only seen by the high priest, when he went into the holy of holies; yet this having been brought out from thence, and exposed in the camp of Israel, some of this place very probably were there at that time, and had seen i”
1 Samuel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Samuel 6:19: Here is, 1. The sin of the men of Beth-shemesh: They looked into the ark of the Lord, Sa1 6:19. Every Israelite had heard great talk of the ark, and had been possessed with a profound veneration for it; but they had been told that it was lodged within a veil, and even the high priest himself might not look upon it but once a year, and then through a cloud of incense. Perhaps this made many say (as we are apt to covet that which is forbidden) what a great deal they would give for a sight of it. Some of these Beth-shemites, we may suppose, for that reason, rejoice”
1 Samuel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Samuel 6:19: 6:19 seventy men: Beth-shemesh was a small village. • because they looked into the Ark: Physical contact with the Ark was prohibited (Num 4:15; 2 Sam 6:6-8), as was looking inside it (Num 4:20). Those who were killed lacked reverence for God’s holiness.”
Numbers (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Numbers 14:44: 14:44 The Ark symbolized God’s presence and blessings (cp. 1 Sam 4:1-11).”
Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 25:10: 25:10-22 an Ark of acacia wood: In translating the plans for the Ark of the Covenant, the NLT continues to use the word Ark because of its traditional associations. However, ark is simply an archaic English word meaning “box.” The Ark was Israel’s “covenant box.” It was the most significant item in the whole complex, because it was there that God made his presence available (25:22). The presence of the stone tablets of the covenant in the box (25:16, 21) underlined the truth that God reveals himself in the context of a mutually binding commitment between himself ”
1 Samuel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Samuel 4:3: On the return of the people to the camp, the elders held a council of war as to the cause of the defeat they had suffered. "Why hath Jehovah smitten us to-day before the Philistines?" As they had entered upon the war by the word and advice of Samuel, they were convinced that Jehovah had smitten them. The question presupposes at the same time that the Israelites felt strong enough to enter upon the war with their enemies, and that the reason for their defeat could only be that the Lord, their covenant God, had withdrawn His help. This was no doubt a correct con”
1 Samuel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Samuel 4:3: 4:3 The Israelites were often defeated in war because of the sin of one individual or the entire nation (Josh 7). In this defeat, no one inquired whether sin was the cause; apparently no one had even asked the Lord whether they should engage the Philistines in the first place (cp. 1 Chr 14:13-16). Instead, the Israelites treated the Ark, the most sacred symbol of the Lord’s presence, as a charm to ward off misfortune. Carrying the Ark into battle was not necessarily wrong (cp. Josh 6:2-21), but neither would this act ensure God’s blessing and victory.”

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