The Philistines who had captured the Ark, sent it back to the Israelites as it had caused problems for them. King David retrieved the Ark of the Covenant from them. There are many similarities between this event and the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth which further validates that Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant.

• The journey

David and his people set out to bring the ark to Jerusalem. “And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim.” (2 Sam 6:2).During the journey to Jerusalem the ark resided in the house of Obed-edom (2 Sam. 6:10).

Similarly Mary also travelled to the house of Elizabeth “In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth” (Luke 1: 39-40). Here both the ark and Mary are on a journey.

• Am I worthy to behold the Ark

David on seeing the ark proclaims, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” (2 Sam. 6:9). When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, she proclaims, “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43)

• Rejoice

When David saw the ark, he danced and rejoiced “Then David came dancing before the LORD with abandon, girt with a linen ephod. David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts of joy and sound of horn.” (2 Sam. 6:14-15)

Similarly the infant (St John the baptist) in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy when they heard Mary’s greeting. “For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.” (Luke 1:44).

• Stayed for three months

The Lord punished Uzzah for touching the Ark of the Covenant and David was terrified to take the Ark to Jerusalem. Hence David brought the Ark to the House of Obed-edom. The Ark of the Covenant stayed at the House of Obed-edom for three months and the Lord blessed the Obed-edom and his household. “The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household” (2 Sam. 6:11).

Likewise Mary also stayed with Elizabeth for three months and certainly Elizabeth and her family were blessed by the presence of Mary and Jesus. “Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.” (Luke 1:56)

• Destination Jerusalem

After three months David went to bring the Ark of the Covenant from the House of Obed-edom to the city of David (i.e. Jerusalem). “David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with joy.” (2 Sam. 6:12).

Mary also travels to Jerusalem to present child Jesus to the Lord. “When the days were completed for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord” (Luke 2:22)