# What military advantages would be found in possession of the Ark (possibly not GQ)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 15, 2002, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-advantages-would-be-found-in-possession-of-the-ark-possibly-not-gq/142860 "2002-12-15T06:26:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lodrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@Lodrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lodrain)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-advantages-would-be-found-in-possession-of-the-ark-possibly-not-gq/142860/21 "2002-12-16T01:35:48Z")
Ehh… I swear, this question seemed legtimate last night. Honest. Before a flamewar begins over a slip of my own judgement, I’ll apologize. I’m sorry. I think I have offended several people present with my question and in retrospect, it was a dumb question to ask. At least I could have put it in a better forum and keep the goodwill of the moderators. I should have known better than this, but this proves that no matter how much I study, I never learn. I’m sorry. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-advantages-would-be-found-in-possession-of-the-ark-possibly-not-gq/142860/22 "2002-12-16T01:50:51Z")
The ark itself wasn’t important. It’s what it represented that was important. When Solomon dedicated the Temple, the Shekina (sp?) light/cloud between the cherubs wings expanded and filled the Most Holy and Holy untill the Preists weren’t even able to stay inside the Temple. This symbolized that God was with His covenant people. (1 Kings 8:10, 11) The presence of The Ark did not even guarantee _Israel_ success in war. (Joshua 7:1-6) The only post-Solomonic historical reference to the ark of the covenant, nearly 900 years after it was made, is at 2 Chronicles 35:3 where King Josiah, in 642 B.C.E., commanded that it be returned to the Temple. How it had come to be removed is not stated. There is no mention of the Ark’s being taken to Babylon in 607 B.C.E. The Ark is not enumerated among the Temple articles carried off. Likewise, there is no mention of its being returned and placed in Zerubbabel’s rebuilt temple; neither was a replacement made for it. When and under what circumstances the Ark disappeared is unknown. Once Christ fulfilled the Law Covenant, nothing of the old covenant was needed or worth anything. (Matthew 5:17; Galatians 3:24, 25; 2 Corinthians 2:5-11; Hebrews 8:6-10) Of course, you have to believe and accept The Bible for this to have any meaning. Otherwise, it’s just entertaining reading. Either way, IMHO, it seems to diffuse any “super weapon” use of the Ark of the Covenant. * * * ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-advantages-would-be-found-in-possession-of-the-ark-possibly-not-gq/142860/23 "2002-12-16T01:57:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lodrain \* > \*\*Ehh… I swear, this question seemed legtimate last night. Honest. Before a flamewar begins over a slip of my own judgement, I’ll apologize. > > I’m sorry. I think I have offended several people present with my question and in retrospect, it was a dumb question to ask. At least I could have put it in a better forum and keep the goodwill of the moderators. I should have known better than this, but this proves that no matter how much I study, I never learn. > > I’m sorry. \*\* FTR, I wasn’t offended. I read it as funny at first and then got into the spirit of treating it as a legit question. Post on, brother. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-advantages-would-be-found-in-possession-of-the-ark-possibly-not-gq/142860/24 "2002-12-16T02:01:34Z")
**Lodrain** , I not sure that you _did_ actually offend anyone. Wrong forum, maybe, but you did point that out in the thread title. I’ve enjoyed it, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-advantages-would-be-found-in-possession-of-the-ark-possibly-not-gq/142860/25 "2002-12-16T05:03:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Urban Ranger \* > \*\*Lets assume Hitler waved his arms about a few times and the Axis won automagically. \*\* Automagically?! You’ve just caused tass to come out my nose. Thank Kibo I’m the only one in this grid room at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-advantages-would-be-found-in-possession-of-the-ark-possibly-not-gq/142860/26 "2002-12-16T05:19:16Z")
Tass? You had a Soviet news agency up your nose Doc? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-advantages-would-be-found-in-possession-of-the-ark-possibly-not-gq/142860/27 "2002-12-16T05:28:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \* > \*\*Tass? You had a Soviet news agency up your nose Doc? \*\* I could explain tass to you, but you wouldn’t believe me. In layman’s terms, tass is magic in physical form. At the Spy’s Demise(the greatest bar in the known universe), it comes as a liquid. You may be unfamiliar with the phenomenon of tass, but I trust you are familiar with the phenomenon of a truly funny post causing a Doper to spout a beverage from their nostrils. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-advantages-would-be-found-in-possession-of-the-ark-possibly-not-gq/142860/28 "2002-12-16T18:49:39Z")
Well, you know the Spear of Destiny is the only thing that stopped Superman from flying over and giving those Ratzis what-for! If Indy hadn’t gotten the Ark from Hitler, he could have used it as an offensive weapon and mindcontrolled the entire Justice Batallion! ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-advantages-would-be-found-in-possession-of-the-ark-possibly-not-gq/142860/29 "2002-12-16T18:51:32Z")
Hm. Well, I supposed he could bonk people over the head with it. Or make a very shortlived, fairly small bonfire, which might hurt an enemy soldier if they were pushed in. Would using it as a very short stepladder to help his soldiers get over an enemy fence count as an advantage? Maybe he could have loaded it onto a bomber and dropped it on London. For maximum effectiveness, maybe he could fill it with ball bearings, so England’s army would all slip and fall, Three Stooges style. Hmm…or maybe a Beowulf cluster of Arks… ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-advantages-would-be-found-in-possession-of-the-ark-possibly-not-gq/142860/30 "2002-12-16T18:51:45Z")
> [@](#): > > The Philistines were also plagued with tumors in each city that the ark was kept after they captured it, until they returned it. Wanna talk about something that would _really_ win some wars? I have heard that the word “tumors” referred to above really means “hemmorhoids”. Now **that’s** some serious divine retribution. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-advantages-would-be-found-in-possession-of-the-ark-possibly-not-gq/142860/31 "2002-12-16T21:32:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Wanna talk about something that would really win some wars? I have heard that the word “tumors” referred to above really means “hemmorhoids”. > > Now that’s some serious divine retribution. Well, that explains why Indy hasn’t made any new movies lately!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-advantages-would-be-found-in-possession-of-the-ark-possibly-not-gq/142860/32 "2002-12-17T00:29:17Z")
“Indiana Jones and the Inflatable Donut.” Nope, just doesn’t ring. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-advantages-would-be-found-in-possession-of-the-ark-possibly-not-gq/142860/33 "2002-12-17T05:42:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DocCathode \* > You’ve just caused tass to come out my nose. Thank Kibo I’m the only one in this grid room at the moment. Glad to be of service 😃 BTW, there was a very old Atari video game called _Spy’s Demise_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-advantages-would-be-found-in-possession-of-the-ark-possibly-not-gq/142860.md?page=1)