n in _Rau_,
S. 40 ff.), although _J. D. Michaelis_, _Vater_, _Rosenmueller_, and
_Baehr_, (_Symbol. des Mos. Cultus_, i. S. 395), have approved of it.[4]
On the other hand, [Pg 387] there is nothing to favour the supposition
of an ordinary and constant presence of the cloud in the holy of
holies. With such a view, questions at once arise, such as: Whether it
came also to the Philistines? All that _Rau_ advances in favour of it,
merely proves the invisible presence of God, which surely cannot be
considered and called a merely imaginary thing, as is done by him, p.
35. For what, in that case, would be the Lord's presence in the hearts
of believers, and in the Lord's supper? It is true that Ezekiel, in
chap. xi. 22, beholds the glory of the Lord over the cherubim as being
lifted up, and forsaking the temple before its destruction; but how can
we draw any reference, as to the actual state of things, from visions
which, according to their nature, surround with a body all that is
invisible? Still, as we already remarked, this whole controversy has
reference to the _manner_ only, and not to the _fact_ of God's presence
over the Ark of the Covenant; and the Ark of the Covenant stands here
in a wider sense, and comprehends the cherubim, and "the glory of the
Lord dwelling over them." From a vast number of passages, it can be
proved that this glory of the Lord was constantly and really present
over the Ark of the Covenant, although it was in extraordinary cases
only that it manifested itself in an outward, visible form; compare,
besides Lev. xvi. 2, Lev. ix. 24, where, after Aaron's consecration to
the priesthood, the glory of the Lord appeared to the whole people in
confirmation of his office. To these passages belong all those in which
God is designated as dwelling over the cherubim, such as 1 Chron. xiii.
6; Ps. lxxx. 2; 1 Sam. iv. 4. To it refers the designation of the ark
of the covenant, in a narrower sense, as the footstool of God; comp. 1
Chron. xxviii. 2, where David says: "I had in mine heart to build an
house of rest for the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, and for the
footstool of our God;" Ps. xcix. 5, cxxxii. 7; Lam. ii. 1. From this
circumstance the fact is explained, that the prayer in distress, as
well as the thanks for deliverance, were offered up before, or towards
[Pg 388] the Ark of the Covenant. After the defeat before Ai (Josh.
vii. 5 ff.), Joshua "rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his
face, befor