The Ark of the Covenant is a chest that contained the Tablets of Stone on which God wrote the Ten Commandments and gave to Moses. These tablets represented the covenant with Israel. The Book of Exodus describes how Moses was to make the Ark, by the command of God. The chest itself was made of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. A cubit in ancient measure is approximately the length of a forearm. Typically it was about 18 inches. God commanded that it be overlay with pure gold, inside and out, with gold molding around it. Four gold rings were to be cast for it and fastened to its four feet, with two rings on one side, and two rings on the other. Poles made from acacia wood would be overlay with gold. The poles of the Ark of the Covenant were to be inserted into the rings on the sides of the chest to be able to be carried. These poles were not to be removed. They were to remain in the rings of the Ark. The stones tablets, or Testimony as it is also called, would be placed into the Ark of the Covenant.

An atonement cover, or lid, would be made for the Ark. This was to be made of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. Two cherubim (winged angelic beings) were to be made out of hammered gold. These cherubim were to sit at the two ends of the cover and would be one piece with the cover. Their wings were to be spread upward, overshadowing the cover, and they were to be facing each other, looking toward the cover. The cover was then to be placed on top of the ark.

After the Ark of the Covenant was completed, the Israelites carried the Ark during their wandering in the desert, for forty years. Whenever the Ark of the Covenant was set down, it was placed in the Tabernacle. This was a special and sacred tent that was constructed for the Ark of the Covenant. The account in the Bible tells us that the city of Jericho fell when the Ark of the Covenant was carried around its walls for seven days by seven priests who sounded seven trumpets of rams’ horns.

The Ark of the Covenant was taken by the Philistines, who kept it for seven months. They kept it for seven months because they felt it was a great victory over the God of Israel, but plagues were inflicted upon the Philistines everywhere they went. Eventually the Philistines gave the Ark of the Covenant back to the Israelites, Gods chosen people, but not before giving a trespass offering to the Lord.

So where is the Ark of the Covenant now? According to seven different people, The Ark of the Covenant is located in seven different places,

1. A cave near Gordon’s Calvary, the place were a few people believe Jesus Christ was crucified.

2. In Iraq

3. In Hezekiah’s tunnel

4. Near the Dead Sea in a cave at En Gedi, one of the hideouts of King David

5. On Mount Nebo

6. In a cave near Bethlehem

7. In Ethiopia in the church of Mary Zion in Axum.

So where is the Ark of the Covenant? Only God knows and will probably bring it forth at the final judgment.