Exodus 25:10

an ark The Heb. word (" ârôn: not the word used of Moses -ark," Exodus 2:3) signifies a boxor chest: it is used in Genesis 50:26 of a mummy case, and in 2 Kings 12:9-10, of a coffer for the collection of money. The cubitmay be reckoned approximately at 18 inches 1 [200].

[200] The dimensions of the restored Temple, pictured by Ezek., are given (Ezekiel 40:5; Ezekiel 43:13) in cubits measuring -a cubit and an handbreadth" (=a cubit +1/6); and this fact, taken in conjunction with 2 Chronicles 3:3 [read formerfor first, has led to the conclusion that the cubit in use when the Temple was built was longer than the common cubit of Ez."s day by 1/6th. The shorter cubit is estimated at 17.6 7 inches, and the longer at 20.5 6 inches (see DB.iv. 906 b ff.; or EB.iv. 5292 f.). Which cubit is referred to by P is uncertain: but for the purpose of forming a general idea of the Tabernacle, as conceived by him, the difference is immaterial. It is remarkable that in Egypt also two cubits were in use, of almost exactly the same lengths, the -short cubit (17.68 in.) of 6 handbreadths, and the -royal" cubit of 7 handbreadths (DB iv. 907 b).