Exodus 25:10

An ark. The Hebrew word thus translated may be from a root meaning “to collect,” “to gather.” If so, an “ark” was a chest into which things might be collected for safekeeping. A related Assyrian word, aranu, “box,” is derived from the root aramu, “to cover.”

A cubit. The Hebrews, like the Egyptians, made use of both a long and a short cubit. Though the length of the Hebrew cubit is a matter of conjecture, it is known that the common Egyptian cubit was 17.7 in. and the royal cubit 20.6 in. Both must have been known to the Hebrews, who built Egyptian cities. Since in Hezekiah’s time the Hebrews had a cubit of about 17.5 in. (see p. 165), approximately the common Egyptian cubit, it can be assumed that this measure was used to build the tabernacle. Accordingly, the ark would be about 3 ft. 7¾ in. (1.11 m.) in length and 2 ft. 2¼ in. (0.67 m.) in breadth and height.