58 GOD GIVING THE LAW TO MOSES.

mountain the sight was awful, and the people were made
to tremble. When Moses came down from the mountain,
he had two tables of stone, on which God had written his
holy law. He told Moses many things he wanted his
people to observe, but the ten commandments were written
upon stone, to show that they were to endure forever.

These tables of stone God commanded to be’ put in
a strong chest, called the ark, and this ark was to be car-
ried wherever his people should go. When the tabernacle
was made, which was their place of worship while jour-
neying in the wilderness, the ark was put in it inthe most
holy place. Two angels were made of gold, which were
placed so as to look toward each other, bending over the
ark. This ark was the symbol of the divine presence, be-
cause it contained his holy law.

So the people when they went out to war would
carry the ark before them, showing by this they trusted
God to fight their battles. These tables of stone, on
’ which the law was written, were kept in the ark for many,
many years, until the great temple was built at Jerusalem.
When the temple was finished the people brought the ark
and placed it therein, saying by this we will obey the law,
and the glory of the Lord filled the temple in a wondrous
manner.