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Gospel of St. Luke: Portrayal of St. Mary

Mary as the Ark of Covenant in the Scene of the Visitation Luke 1

https://www.academia.edu/36729282/Mary_as_the_Ark_of_the_Covenant_in_the_Scene_of_the_Visitation_Luke_1_39_56_Reconsidered_in_Warszawskie_Studia_Teologiczne_31_1_2018_pp_109_116 

Comparing 2 Samuel 6:2-11 (The Entrance of the Ark into Jerusalem) with Luke 1:39-56 (The Visit of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth)

  • In both, the journey takes place in the land of Judah
  • The house is carried "into the house of Obed-Edom" (2 Samuel 6:10) and Mary enters "the house of Zechariah" (Luke 1:40)
    • Both are focused on the "ascending"
  • David's Cry: "How can the Ark of the Lord ever come to me?!" and Elizabeth's cry: "Why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?!"
    • The meaning (sacred respect and feeling of being unworthy before the place of Presence) is analogous
  • "The Ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom three months" and "Mary remained with her about three months"
    • In both cases, the stay lasts for three months in a house that is blessed by it
  • "David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of a trumpet" (2 Samuel 6:15) and "Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!'" (Luke 1:42)
    • Greek in 2 Samuel: κραυγή
    • Greek in Luke:
      • ἀνεφώνησεν (she cried out)
        • This word is used in the LXX exclusively for liturgical exclamations accompanying the transport of the Ark of the Covenant
        • In the NT it is a hapax legomenon
        • 1 Chronicles 15:28 - "And all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of a horn, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, playing loudly on lutes and harps."
        • 1 Chronicles 16:4 - "And he appointed before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, Levites to minister and lift up the voice, and to give thanks and praise the Lord God of Israel"
        • 1 Chronicles 16:5 - "Asaph was the chief and next to him Zacharias, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom: and Jeiel sounding with musical instruments, lutes and harps, and Asaph with cymbals:"
        • 1 Chronicles 16:42 - "And with them there were trumpets and cymbals to sound aloud, and musical instruments for the songs of God: and the sons of Idithun were at the gate."
        • 2 Chronicles 5:13 - "And there was one voice in the trumpeting and in the psalm singing, and in the loud utterance with one voice to give thanks and praise the Lord; and when they raised their voice together with trumpets and cymbals, and instruments of music, and said, Give thanks to the Lord, for it is good, For his mercy endures forever— then the house was filled with the cloud of the glory of the Lord."
      • κραυγῇ (with a voice)
        • Same as 2 Samuel
      • μεγάλῃ (loud)
  • "Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Lord" (2 Samuel 6:16) and "The babe leaped in my womb for joy" (Luke 1:44)

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