Lesson eight - David and the Ark (pages 16-17)

Text from the book

What do you do when you are thrilled about something? King David danced for joy when he brought the Ark home to Jerusalem.

Learning objectives

Pupils will:

• acquire an understanding of the story of David’s joyful procession into Jerusalem;

• develop an awareness of the emotions of reverence and joy this evoked.

Background

The Israelites had been in the wilderness for forty years, and centuries in the Promised Land before King David brought the Ark to its home, Jerusalem. The Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God amongst the Israelites. It was holy and treated with great veneration and deep respect and had been carried with the Israelites on their travels. David was fulfilling God’s command. He believed Jerusalem would be the resting place for God; Israel would have a place to worship God as they should. God would be home in Jerusalem after years of travelling. David danced with joy when he brought the Ark to Jerusalem where it would later rest in the Temple that his son, Solomon, would build.

Ways of using the picture

• What makes the pupils want to ‘dance with joy’?
• What does it feel like to come home, at the end of school or at the end of the holidays?
• Why do the pupils think David was so happy to be bringing the Ark into the capital city? What did it represent to him and to the Israelites?

Bible reference

2 Samuel 6.12-19

Key words

• Procession
• Ecstasy
• Excitement
• Enthusiasm
• Reverence
• Veneration
• Exultation
• Joy
• Respect

Activity

You will need

The appropriate music and a CD player/play back recorder

Materials to make a model of the Ark – poles, cardboard box, paint, glue, scissors paper, ingenuity.

Tell the story of how David brought the ark to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6.1-15 1 Chronicles13.1-14; 15.25-16.6,43.) pausing to discuss and emphasise the contrasting emotions of the people who had great reverence for the Ark of the Covenant, and how joyful they were to be taking it home to Jerusalem.

Play Tanz (movement 6 from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff) pointing out the contrasting sections within the movement.

Teacher and pupils might choreograph a dance using this music.

Section 1 excitement of getting the procession ready

Section 2 the procession gets under way giving the Ark great reverence,

Section 3 the procession gathers momentum as it proceeds on its way.

Another piece of music which conveys this feeling of excitement is ‘Dancing in the Streets’ by Martha and the Vandellas (Tamla Motown) which could be used in addition to Carmina Burana.

Pupils could also make a large model of the Ark of the Covenant using a box suitably decorated and mounted on two long poles.

Learning outcomes

Pupils will have:

• a direct experience of being part of a procession, having created their own context

for it;

• the opportunity of reflecting of the contrasting emotions of the excitement of a procession which has a very serious and profound purpose;

• learnt and understood one reason why Jerusalem is so important to Jewish people.

Assessment opportunities

Pupils will have:

• explored the power of emotions linked to special occasions;
• worked in cross-curricular mode;
• created their own ritual and engaged with the story of Jerusalem.

Extension work

Pupils could compose their own ‘processional’ music.

Discuss the contrast between the wonderment of the Ark of the Covenant and the excitement of its home coming to Jerusalem. Pupils could be given the opportunity to compose the music for their own procession.

Web site links

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/texte/manuscrit/aman11/i8_0011d.htm
This is a very different version of David dancing before the Ark, taken from a 15th Century illuminated manuscript.

http://www.ebibleteacher.com/children/lessons/OT/unitedkingdom/DavidandArk.htm
This bible lesson, appropriate for churches rather than schools, provides activities and discussion questions based on this bible story.

Three very different expressions of joy can be viewed at:
http://www.auroville.org/art&culture/dance/joy.htm (a professional dancer expresses joy)
http://www.blessing.org/liberia/ (photo of Liberian children, with clubbed feet, dancing)
http://www.connect.ie/helens/pages2/gaa3d.html (school children's delight at winning a Gaelic football cup).

© Alan Brown and Alison Seaman, 2002

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