A replica of the ark of the covenant can be seen in the Timna Park in Israel:
A selection of verses about the ark of the covenant.
The ark contains the two tablets having the ten commandments written on them, together with the pot of manna and Aaron's rod:
3 After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, 4 having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;
The ark is the place where God says he will meet with and speak to Moses and give commandments for the Israelites:
21 You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the covenant that I will give you. 22 There I will meet with you, and I will tell you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the covenant, all that I command you for the children of Israel.
The Levites carry the ark, and the book of the law is put beside it:
25 Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the LORD’s covenant, saying, 26 “Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of the LORD your God’s covenant, that it may be there for a witness against you.
The ark goes before the Israelites as they travel:
3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the LORD your God’s covenant, and the Levitical priests bearing it, then leave your place and follow it.
The priests carrying the ark stand in the Jordan while the Israelites cross over:
17 The priests who bore the ark of the LORD’s covenant stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the nation had passed completely over the Jordan.
The ark is captured by the Philistines when the Israelites think it will help them win a battle:
10 The Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter; for thirty thousand footmen of Israel fell. 11 God’s ark was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
It is later put in the house of the LORD built by Solomon:
6 The priests brought in the ark of the LORD’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place, even under the cherubim’s wings.
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