Photo Credit: 1728 Figures de la Bible; illustrated by Gerard Hoet (1648–1733) and others, and published by P. de Hondt in The Hague; image courtesy Bizzell Bible Collection, University of Oklahoma Libraries
“And thou shalt put the cover upon the ark; and in the ask thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.” (Shmot 25:21)
This instruction seems repetitive, as in verse 16, Moshe was already told to place the testimony in the ark.
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Rashi suggests that the Torah emphasizes that the testimony must be placed into the ark prior to putting the kaporet (cover) on for the first time.
The kaporet represents the crown of Torah. Kavod Hatorah is extremely important in Judaism, but fanfare and trimmings – the kaporet, without the Torah content itself, is severely lacking.
Shabbat Shalom.
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