Could the Ark been some sort of Capacitor?

According to this article, the Ark of the Covenant could of been a device that generated electric charges powerful enough to kill people.

In the late 1990s, for example, author Richard Andrews, who had worked in his youth as a furniture builder, constructed a replica of the Ark, following the precise instructions given in the Bible. He and others have a theory that explained how Aaron's sons might have been struck dead by merely touching the Ark. The object's design, they note, essentially made it a giant capacitor, capable of storing electrical energy. "Gold is one of the best conductors of electricity there is, while wood is one of the best insulators," Andrews wrote in a 1999 article for the Daily Mail, a British newspaper. "If the Israelites had set out to construct a primitive accumulator, they could hardly have picked a better design than the Ark." Subsequent tests of Andrews' model at a college laboratory confirmed that his Ark could accumulate and release an electrical charge.

bytlc.discovery.com...

It seems like this theory is a little far-fetch, but, like it said in the article, it would explain why Aaron's sons were killed when the touched the ark.

Well it is quite obvious that they got their instructions straight from the Creator of everthing, so of course He would know what He was doing.

I think it is funny how many people choose to believe certain things in the bible but miss the most important message and point of the bible, which is that we are a fallen race and every thing we do is bad and that their is no way we can help ourselves out of this fallen state. Which is the reason for the gospel(good news). To show us that there is hope, thru Jesus our saviour.

Laurence Garden writes a lot about the Ark in his book Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark about the electrical nature of the ark and how those who were going to touch it were instructed to wear specific garments to protect themselves. Those that didn't ended up dying quite fast. He ties it in with mono-atomic elements quite a lot too. Interesting read ;-)

This is something I have thought about for a while. A capacitor can really be any shape at all.
It just requires to oppositely charged plates and a dielectric of some form.
Note: It was made of Gold (a very good electrical conductor). We don't actually know what was inside (except-perhaps the tablets).
Also research where it was kept-in a room made of tons of gold.
It had wooden poles to carry it-insulator.
The people who carried it had to wear specific clothes-more insulation.

i forgot where i heard about this from but it was true. But what use did a capacitator (sp?) have for the people living back then?

I still think it was a chest holding highly radioactive rocks...

Think about it...glowing rocks to a person of Biblical times...they must be holy! Perhaps they are the pieces of Moses' tablets? Of course, that is what they must be!!!

Read the descriptions of what exactly happened to the victims, and then see if you disagree....

Well, if you all saw what happened to the Germans in Indiana Jones's Lost Ark, you'd be convinced the ark was an elctricity generator

[edit on 8-10-2004 by SpittinCobra]

Ark of the Covenant (believed to house the remains of the stone tablets laying down the ten commandments)....not Noah's Ark...

Originally posted by Gazrok
Ark of the Covenant (believed to house the remains of the stone tablets laying down the ten commandments)....not Noah's Ark...

Stupid me, LOL, I can be so crazy sometimes. Sorry All

Eh...we all do it...especially those of us (like myself) that read too quickly...

Originally posted by Gazrok
I still think it was a chest holding highly radioactive rocks...

Think about it...glowing rocks to a person of Biblical times...they must be holy! Perhaps they are the pieces of Moses' tablets? Of course, that is what they must be!!!

Read the descriptions of what exactly happened to the victims, and then see if you disagree....

I dunno, from what I've read in the Bible, it seems like fire always killed someone who tried to touch the ark. What did people back then think lightening and electricity were? Fire. So, it would make sense to say that a high voltage discharge from the Ark killed whoever touched it.

I remember accounts of burns, but not necessarily visible fire, or electric arcs. This would play into radiation burns well... There are also details such as hair falling out, if I recall, that seem to support the radiation idea...

Originally posted by Gazrok
I remember accounts of burns, but not necessarily visible fire, or electric arcs. This would play into radiation burns well... There are also details such as hair falling out, if I recall, that seem to support the radiation idea...

I'm starting to lean towards your idea that the ark may of had radioactive rocks in it.

I have this book called "The Illustrated Guide to the Bible", which is just a big book of foot notes with some famous pictures. I was reading about when the Philistines captured the ark during the time of Samuel, and took it to their land. They set it in their temple, but "a mysterious plague of cancers immediately strikes citizens".

So, it would make sense to think that the radioactive rocks gave the people cancer, but then, why would only the general population of Israel's enemies get cancer, and not the general population of Israel also? Could it be god at work?

So then were the death rays and such just a hollywoodism?

But the Ark of the Covenant is also one of the most frightening artifacts described in all of biblical history. A golden box with the power to strike men dead, to the ancient Hebrews, the Ark was both a divine manifestation and a talisman so powerful that they carried it with them into battle � a weapon of God. To their enemies, it was a treasure to be coveted � but once captured, a terrible punishment. It came to occupy the most revered spot in Jerusalem, the Holy of Holies at the Temple of Solomon, and then � six centuries before the birth of Christ � it mysteriously disappeared.

The ark was most likely some type of electrical device...The Ark and its sanctuary were "the beauty of Israel" (Lam. 2:1). During the journeys of the Israelites, the Ark was carried by the priests in advance of the host (Num. 4:5, 6; 10:33-36; Ps. 68:1; 132:8). The Ark was borne by the priests into the bed of the Jordan, which separated, opening a pathway for the whole of the host to pass over (Josh. 3:15, 16; 4:7, 10, 11, 17, 18). The Ark was borne in the procession round Jericho (Josh. 6:4, 6, 8, 11, 12). When carried, the Ark was always wrapped in the veil, the badgers' skins, and blue cloth, and carefully concealed even from the eyes of the Levites who carried it.

The Hebrew word aron is used in the Bible to designate any type of ark, chest or coffer, for any purpose (Gen. 50:26; 2 Kings 12:9, 10). The Ark of the Covenant is distinguished from all others by such titles as the "Ark of God" (1 Sam. 3:3), "Ark of the Covenant" (Josh. 3:6; Heb. 9:4), "Ark of the Testimony" (Ex. 25:22).

The Bible describes the Ark as made of acacia or #tah-tree wood, a cubit and a half broad and high and two cubits long, and covered all over with the purest gold. Its upper surface or lid, the mercy-seat, was surrounded with a rim of gold; and on each of the two sides were two gold rings, in which were placed two gold-covered poles by which the ark could be carried (Num. 7:9; 10:21; 4:5,19, 20; 1 Kings 8:3, 6).

Over the Ark, at the two extremities, were two cherubim, with their faces turned toward each other (Lev. 16:2; Num. 7:89). Their outspread wings over the top of the ark formed the throne of God, while the ark itself was his footstool (Ex. 25:10-22; 37:1-9).

The Ark was deposited in the "holy of holies," and was so placed that one end of the poles by which it was carried touched the veil which separated the two apartments of the tabernacle (1 Kings 8:8). The two tables of stone which constituted the "testimony" or evidence of God's covenant with the people (Deut. 31:26), the "pot of manna" (Ex. 16:33), and "Aaron's rod that budded" (Num. 17:10), were laid up in the Ark (Heb. 9:4).

What is an Arc ?. An Arc is defined as a continuous passage of an electric current between two or more separated carbon or other electrodes. Nerve impulses in the human body are triggered across synapse's. These are electrical impulses. In the brain the impulse Arcs from one receptor to the other. Though we have a differance of spelling here.

Modern analysis
The Ark of the Covenant was 45 by 27 by 27 inches (1143 by 686 by 686 mm) [1]. Speculations that the Ark of the Covenant may have operated as an electrical capacitor have been held by some, including, in the 1900s, electrician Nikola Tesla. Louis Ginzberg�s "Legends of the Jews" has ancient oral traditions referring to "sparkss" from the cherubim. The design of the ark may have allowed it to store electric charge, and thus could facilitate an electric discharge between the cherubs. The theory suggests that it resembles a capacitor (of radiant energy) in its construction. The biblical accounts of individuals sudden deaths from touching the Ark could correspond to death by a lethal high voltage charge. "Fiery jets" occasionally burned and destroyed close objects. Other biblical accounts could correspond with exposure to some high frequency electromagnetic fields. Jewish legend has occasional records of a "cloud" between the cherubim. The Ark was considered dangerous at these times and Moses would not approach it. Tesla, in the article "A fairy tale of electricity" (published September 9, 1915), stated in regards to the Ark:
"The records, though scanty, are of a nature to fill us with conviction that a few initiated, at least, had a deeper knowledge of amber phenomena. To mention one, Moses was undoubtedly a practical and skillful electrician far in advance of his time. The Bible describes precisely, and minutely, arrangements constituting a machine in which electricity was generated by friction of air against silk curtains, and stored in a box constructed like a condenser. It is very plausible to assume that the sons of Aaron were killed by a high-tension discharge, and that the vestal fires of the Romans were electrical." [1]
Archaeological discoveries of the last century (which include the Baghdad Battery among others), indicate that a working knowledge of energy devices might have been present in ancient Middle Eastern cultures, and therefore it might not have been beyond Moses' specialized training in the house of Pharaoh (Exodus 2:10). It is known that the acacia wood acts as an insulator, while the gold (the purest available at that time) is known as a good conductor. An electric charge could have accumulated from constant exposure to static electricity in the Middle East climate (among other possible sources). The Ark's upper surface has a rim of gold (a single coil of angels figures). Over the Ark, the cherubs could form a spark gap, producing a dynamic radiance that would inspire awe in the observer, and act as a lightning source to kill anyone that touched it.�Num. 7:9; 10:21; 4:5,19, 20; 1 Kings 8:3, 6; Lev. 16:2; Num. 7:89; 2 Sam. 6:6, 7. Around 1999, author Richard Andrews built a model of the Ark. He claims that when tested, it demonstrated that it would act as an electromagnetic accumulator. Author Erich von D�niken theory concerning this is not regarded as credible by mainstream archaeology.

The various things I've seen about the Ark are "accurate" as far as the supposed powers of the Ark. I would tend to agree that the Ark is not radioactive. If the Ark were full of radiacyive rocks, wouldn't that be a hazard to the faithful as well as their enemies? I know that gold is dense, but would a wood box covered with gold ornamentation be enough to stop the radiation? How would the "good guys" direct the radiation at an opponent?

Frankly, I'm a little surprised that nobody has referred to these yet. There are several websites of companies that still make Leyden jars, or you can easily find the plans to make your own.

Now, get this. If a Leyden Jar the size of a coffee can, will knock you back (if not out)...just imagine getting hit by one that's bigger than a foot locker!

By the way, here's a link to the Catholic Encyclopedia's article on the Ark:

www.newadvent.org...

Have fun and happy reading!

[edit on 13-10-2004 by Toelint]

[edit on 15-10-2004 by Toelint]

Thought all might want to see the leading contender for the ark's location...

www.sacredsites.com...

The various things I've seen about the Ark are "accurate" as far as the supposed powers of the Ark. I would tend to agree that the Ark is not radioactive. If the Ark were full of radiacyive rocks, wouldn't that be a hazard to the faithful as well as their enemies? I know that gold is dense, but would a wood box covered with gold ornamentation be enough to stop the radiation? How would the "good guys" direct the radiation at an opponent?

I don't think they did direct it.. There are many accounts of those with the ark dying as well, and this is blamed in the bible, on those who glanced at the arc and shouldn't have... I believe this was simply a way to save face (or they honestly believed this), and that the weapon was soon abandoned as it injured all... I did a quick google, and I can see I'm not the only one who has this theory... Admittedly, hasn't been a real passion of mine, so I haven't given it the full attention I'd like to.....



[edit on 15-10-2004 by Gazrok]

Sorry, but I gotta wonder if we're taking the right approach to discovering the Ark's real power. First off, the Ark was called from the temple (at the time in the city of Silo) to help the Israilites who had met heavy losses in a battle with the Philistines outside the city of Bethel. Not only did the Israelites lose AGAIN, but now the Ark was in the possession of the Philistines! But now, check this. The following is a small exerpt from the Catholic Encyclopedia.

"They accordingly brought it to Azotus and set it as a trophy in the temple of Dagon. But the next morning they found Dagon fallen upon his face before the Ark; they raised him up and set him in his place again. The following morning Dagon again was lying on the ground, badly mutilated. At the same time a cruel disease (perhaps the bubonic plague) smote the Azotites, while a terrible invasion of mice afflicted the whole surrounding country. These scourges were soon attributed to the presence of the Ark within the walls of the city, and regarded as a direct judgment from Yahweh."

Hmm....stilll think it's just Electricity??

LOL Okay, now I was thinking of something else. The Holy of Holies was a tent made of various skins and vails that surrounded the Ark. Now, as I recall one article on Leydan Jars, the charge was transferred to the Jar by rubbing a plactic rod with a rabbit skin, then touching the rod to the ball atop of the Jar.

Could the Holy of Holies tent, with all that fur and silk and metal, have been the method of recharging the Ark? Hmmm...



[edit on 3-11-2004 by Toelint]