The ark of the covenant was a sacred chest that contained several significant items from Israel’s history and represented God’s presence among His people. Though the Bible does not provide an exhaustive list of the ark’s contents, it does mention a few key items that were kept inside this holy vessel.
The Tablets of the Covenant
The most well-known contents of the ark were the two stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed. Exodus 25:16 states that God directed Moses to “put into the ark the testimony that I shall give you.” This refers to the Ten Commandments that God spelled out in Exodus 20, which were later recorded on the stone tablets. Hebrews 9:4 also confirms that the ark contained “the tablets of the covenant.”
These stone tablets represented God’s covenant with Israel. By placing them within the ark, the people were reminded of God’s laws and their obligation to obey them. The Ten Commandments summed up God’s righteous requirements for His people.
Aaron’s Staff
Hebrews 9:4 mentions “Aaron’s staff that budded” as another item that was placed in the ark of the covenant. This refers back to an episode in Numbers 17 where God caused Aaron’s staff to miraculously sprout buds, flowers, and almonds overnight, to show that Aaron and his descendants were chosen as Israel’s priests.
After this miracle, God commanded Moses to “put back Aaron’s staff in front of the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels” (Numbers 17:10). This demonstrated that Aaron’s family line was divinely appointed for the priesthood. The budding staff served as a reminder of God’s choice and a warning against rebellion against His plans.
A Golden Jar of Manna
The author of Hebrews also specifies that “the golden urn holding the manna” was placed inside the ark (Hebrews 9:4). This refers to the jar of manna that was preserved from Israel’s wilderness wanderings as a memorial of God’s provision.
When the Israelites first received manna from heaven, God instructed Moses to “take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the Lord to be kept throughout your generations” (Exodus 16:33). This manna in the golden jar reminded the people of God’s faithful provision for 40 years in the wilderness.
The Mercy Seat
On top of the ark was a solid gold cover known as the mercy seat, which was considered God’s throne (2 Samuel 6:2). The mercy seat was ornamented with two cherubim, one on each end facing each other, with wings spread upward (Exodus 25:17-21).
Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would sprinkle the blood of animal sacrifices on the mercy seat to make atonement for the people’s sins (Leviticus 16:14-15). The mercy seat represented the presence of God dwelling among His people.
Significance of the Ark’s Contents
Together, the items inside the ark provided a powerful visual reminder of God’s laws, guidance, provision, and presence among His chosen nation. The Ten Commandments showed God’s righteous standards. Aaron’s staff demonstrated God’s selection and authority structure for the priesthood. The manna reflected God’s faithful care and supply. And the mercy seat depicted the atonement for sin that allowed God’s presence to remain.
Thus, the ark served as a complete expression of God’s covenant relationship with Israel – His expectations, authority, provision, and presence. Whenever Israel carried or saw the ark, they were reminded of God’s promises to be their God and dwell with them as they trusted and obeyed Him.
Other Theories About the Ark’s Contents
A few other items have been theorized to be inside the ark of the covenant, though scripture does not specifically confirm these ideas:
- The Book of the Law – Some believe that the first five books of the Bible (Genesis – Deuteronomy), also known as the Torah or Pentateuch, were kept in the ark. However, passages like Deuteronomy 31:26 refer to the Book of the Law being placed “beside” the ark, not inside it.
- The High Priest’s Breastplate – The breastplate containing the urim and thummim stones may have been stored in the ark at times. But scripture does not definitively state this.
- Moses’ Rod – Moses’ miraculous rod could have been placed in the ark, as Aaron’s staff was. But there is no clear biblical evidence of this.
While these other items may have had some association with the ark, the scriptural sources we have do not confirm them as contents. The tablets, manna, Aaron’s staff, and mercy seat seem to be the key contents that Scripture focuses on most directly.
The Loss and Eventual Disappearance of the Ark
In the ancient world, the ark served as a representation of God’s presence with Israel, leading them into battle and signifying His glory dwelling among them. However, due to Israel’s disobedience, the ark was lost for several decades here and there before it finally disappeared altogether.
During the time of the judges, the ark was captured by the Philistines when the wicked priest Eli’s sons brought it improperly into battle (1 Samuel 4:11). Though the Philistines eventually sent it back because of the plagues God afflicted them with (1 Samuel 5-6), the ark had been removed from Israel for several years.
Later, near the end of King David’s reign, the ark was kept in Jerusalem, where David brought it with great fanfare (2 Samuel 6). His son Solomon eventually enshrined the ark in the Most Holy Place of the magnificent temple he built in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:1-9).
However, many generations later when the Babylonians conquered Judah, they razed Solomon’s temple to the ground. At that point, it appears the ark was either destroyed or carried away – scripture simply does not mention the ark any further after the fall of Jerusalem around 587 BC (2 Kings 25:13-17).
What exactly happened to it remains a mystery. But God’s presence was no longer limited to or dependent on this physical vessel once Jesus Christ came as Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of all believers.
Enduring Legacy of the Ark
Though the historical ark of the covenant has been lost to time, its legacy endures. It remains a revered symbol of God’s covenant with His people, His holy standards, miraculous workings, and presence among His followers throughout the generations.
The contents of the ark provide a powerful picture of these spiritual truths. And while the ark itself is gone, these realities persist in the lives of all who know God through faith in Christ.
Just as God dwelt with Israel through the ark, He now dwells in the hearts of believers through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). And just as the ark went before Israel into the Promised Land, so God leads and guides His people today on the path to eternal life with Him.
The ark of the covenant stood for centuries as a reminder to Israel of God’s faithfulness and presence. Today, followers of Jesus have an even greater reminder – the indwelling of the Spirit who enlightens God’s people to the full truth and reality of the new covenant in Christ.
So while the gold-covered ark is no more, the spiritual truths it embodied – of God’s promises, standards, power, provision, and presence – continue on in those who have faith in Jesus Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of the everlasting covenant between God and His people.