How did Indy know not to look into the Ark?
In Raiders of the Lost Ark, at the Ark opening ceremony the Nazi troops brings the Ark of the Covenant to the top of the mountain as Belloq said something before opening the Ark. Then they took the sand from the Ark and suddenly spirits coming out from the Ark and they're all killed (except Indy and Marion) by the freed-spirits which came from the Ark. Meanwhile, Indy asks Marion to keep her eyes shut. They didn't see the Ark when it was opened, so they're survived.
Here is the YouTube link of that scene:
In that scene what I don't understand is how did Indy know not to look into the Ark when it was opened?
Best Answer
There was a deleted scene that explained it:
A plot element involving the Ark of the Covenant was cut from the film and is only hinted at during the finale when the Ark is opened.
Basically, there were 2 rules about the Ark not mentioned in the final cut of the film:
- If you touch the Ark, you die
- If you look at the Ark when it is opened, you die
This is first explained in additional dialogue for the scene when Indy and Sallah visit Imam. Before translating the writings on the headpiece that give the height of the Staff of Ra, Imam warns Indy not to touch the Ark or look at it when it is opened.
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The next scene involving this Ark subplot is when Sallah and Indy remove the Ark from the Well of the Souls. When Sallah first sees it he reaches out to touch it. Indy stops him before he does and reminds him of Imam's warning. Then they insert long poles through each side of the Ark to lift it out of its crypt.
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Notice that nobody ever touches the Ark throughout the rest of the film until the finale.
And from the Bible (King James Version):
1 Samuel 6:19:
And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men...2 Samuel 6:6-7
And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
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How did Jones know not to look at the Ark?
Update: (thanks Twitch92) A deleted scene was shot where Imam, the wise man translating the markings on the headpiece of the Staff of Ra also translates another set of markings, which gives a warning about not looking into the Ark.Why did they close their eyes in Raiders of the Lost Ark?
Warning Marion Ravenwood, they closed their eyes and looked away from the Ark symbolically showing proper respect, and were spared from the wrath of God.What happens if you look inside the Ark of the Covenant?
When the ark was captured by the Philistines, outbreaks of tumors and disease afflicted them, forcing the Philistines to return the ark to the Israelites. Some stories describe how death would come to anyone who touched the ark or looked inside it.How Did Indiana Jones Know Not to Look at the Ark of the Covenant - Indiana Jones Explained
More answers regarding how did Indy know not to look into the Ark?
Answer 2
IIRC there was a scene near the beggining showing pictures of the Ark with priests carrying it with poles, the priests were blindfolded and around them were their enemies hit by lightning.
Answer 3
Indy knew not to look in the Ark, because he had a religious upbringing as hinted in The Last Crusade. His dad made him memorize and recite passages from the Bible as shown in the "Young Indy" segment. Indy also asked OSS agents if they'd ever been to Sunday school when they didn't seem to know what The Ark was. Indy explained it briefly and knew what page to turn to in the book with the picture.
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