Objects — A

acacia-wood

Acacia wood is given as a freewill contribution and used for the ark, table, vertical frames, crossbars, poles, the bronze altar, and the incense altar of the Dwelling.

almonds

Almonds are Canaan's produce in Genesis; the lamp-stand's cups are shaped like almond blossoms, each with its calyx and petals.

altar

Altars mark worship; under the Sinai covenant Israel must tear down the altars of the nations whose land they enter. Moses builds an altar at the foot of Sinai; the Dwelling's bronze altar is consecrated by anointing. Aaron built an altar before the golden calf.

amethyst

A precious stone in the third row of the breastplate of judgement, with hyacinth and ruby.

ark

Noah's ark is the vessel God commands for preserving life through the flood.

ark-of-the-Testimony

An ark of acacia wood overlaid with gold. It stands in the Holy of Holies behind the curtain, with the mercy-seat on it. The incense altar is set in front of the curtain by this ark; it is anointed with the holy oil. Bezalel and Oholiab are commissioned to make the ark of the Testimony.

arrow

Anyone who touches Mount Sinai must be put to death without a hand laid on him: he must be stoned or shot by arrow, whether man or beast.

awl

If a Hebrew slave chooses to stay with his master, wife and children, the master brings him before God and pierces his ear with an awl at the door or doorpost, and the slave is permanently his.