THE ARK
(Electrocution in the Bible)

A bible story, combining physics, theology and medicine – and the objects of research in three degrees.
All good bible stories start: “AND IT CAME TO PASS”, So that is how this story will start.
And it came to pass that the Chicago Science Museum published the results of a project they had undertaken regarding the Ark Of the Covenant. This project consisted of constructing the Ark from wood and metal foil to the same dimensions as those delineated in the biblical description.
They found that the resulting container was a capacitor of great magnitude.
The physics properties of this reconstructed Ark included the potential to hold and discharge very high voltage with considerable current. The English language newspapers of Montreal carried the story noting that “It blew a hole in the wall of the building” as it discharged to a grounded wall outlet.
Like any capacitor, it could be charged by friction with cotton or silk and an opposite charge could be generated by linen.
A residual charge, if present, could be grounded. This might be accomplished by touching with wet hands and feet and a garment with a metal thread would facilitate this.
To understand the significance of this information, it is necessary to refer to the Book of Exodus.
Starting with Exodus 25:10.
After returning from the mount Moses is instructed to make the Ark and the first description appears.
Aaron and his sons were charged with looking after all aspects of the Ark and the rituals to be followed. They were to wash their hands and feet in the laver; a basin for ceremonial ablution. The clothing to be worn by them when entering the tent is described. Linen tunics are to cover the loin and thighs, with an ephod on top. (Exodus 28, 30, 40, 42, 43.)That they die not!
Exodus 37: In response to the instructions Bezalel makes the Ark ¼ the dimensions being: 2 ½ cubits long, 1 ½ cubits high. The materials to be used were: Acacia wood with gold inlay inside and out. The ark cover was pure gold fitted on top. The table to support the Ark is here described and is also made of wood and gold foil.
The Ephods (a type of vest worn in Biblical times) were to be of fine linen with gold. Strict instructions are given regarding the washing of hands and feet on entering the tent. This was to be done in the laver inside the tent. These two sets of instructions end with the phrase That they die not!

Advancing to Leviticus 10. 1&2, the death of Aaron’s sons Nadab & Abihu is described. The strictly straight translation is not totally explicit. However, the commentary suggests that they were under the influence of drink when they entered the sanctuary; they did not bathe their hands and feet nor did they change their clothing. The fire that consumed them was “different”. It consumed their inner souls and left them outwardly unchanged .“like a lightening bolt”.
This is the biblical description of an electrical burn.
For an explanation of this, one must look at the results of electric burns. A limb so burned has minimal damage on the outside but the bone may be completely burned on the inside. Bone offers a higher resistance to electrical current than soft tissue and the higher the resistance, the greater is the heat generated.

CONCLUSION:
The Ark of the Covenant, an inanimate object, could electrocute anyone disobeying those instructions and commandments regarding its care.
Aaron’s sons disregarded those commandments. They got a little drunk. They washed neither their hands nor feet, thus failing to ground any residual charge on the ark and finally, they failed to change their garments. So, instead of performing those tasks which would reduce any residual charge, they generated a higher and higher static charge by dancing round the ark with garments which would rub against it. When that charge got high enough to overcome the resistance of their bodies, it electrocuted them on its way to the ground.

By R.W. Bro. Michael J. Diamond, F.C.F.
of The Curriculum Group
Committee on Masonic Education
January 2008
From his book Pillars and Steps, A Selection of Masonic Education Presentations, 3rd Ed., London Ontario 2006